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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/77632-h/77632-h.htm b/77632-h/77632-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4dba17a --- /dev/null +++ b/77632-h/77632-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2479 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + The earliest historical relations between Mexico and Japan | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} +h1 { /* use for book title */ + margin: 1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 160%;} +h2 { /* use for chapter headings */ + margin:1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 140%;} +h3 { margin: 1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 120%;} + +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; + margin-top: 4em;} + +p { text-indent: 1.5em; + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} +.unindent {text-indent: 0em; + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em;} +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.center {text-align: center;} +.justl {float: left;} +.justr {float: right;} +.hangwide {margin-left: 6em; + text-indent: -6em;} +.tall {line-height: 150%;} + +/* Rules */ +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +/* TABLES */ +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdh {vertical-align: top; text-align: left; + text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 2em;} +.vlt {vertical-align: top;} +.vlb {vertical-align: bottom;} +.pad1 {padding-top: 1em;} +.pad2 {padding-left: 1em;} + + +.pagenum { + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { font-size: 90%; + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +/* Font styling */ +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} +.small {font-size: 92%;} +.smaller {font-size: 83%;} +.larger {font-size: 120%;} +.sansserif {font-family: sans-serif; } + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +a { border:none; text-decoration:none; font-variant:normal; } +abbr { border:none; text-decoration:none; font-variant:normal; } + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 ***</div> + +<p class="center sansserif"><span class="allsmcap"><b>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS</b></span><br><br> +<b>AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="justl"> Vol. 4</span> + <span class="justr">No. 1 </span></p> +<hr class="full"> + +<h1> +THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS<br> +BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN +</h1> + +<p class="center tall">FROM ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS PRESERVED IN SPAIN +AND JAPAN</p> + +<p class="p2 center tall">BY<br> +<span class="larger">ZELIA NUTTALL</span></p> + +<p class="p2 center tall">BERKELEY<br> +<span class="allsmcap">THE UNIVERSITY PRESS<br> +APRIL, 1906</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center sansserif"> +<span class="allsmcap"><b>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS</b></span><br> +<br> +<span class="allsmcap"><b>AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY</b></span><br> + +<span class="smcap smaller justl"><b>Vol. 4</b></span> +<span class="smcap smaller justr"><b>No. 1</b></span> +</p> +<hr class="full"> +</div> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_EARLIEST_HISTORICAL_RELATIONS"> + THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS + BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN + </h2> + +<p class="center"> +(<span class="smcap">From Original Documents Preserved in Spain and Japan.</span>)<br> +<br> +<span class="small">BY</span><br> +<br> +<span class="larger">ZELIA NUTTALL.</span><br> +</p> + +<hr class="r5"> +<p class="center smaller">PUBLISHED BY THE CROOKER FUND FOR RESEARCH IN MEXICO.</p> +<hr class="r5"> + + +<p>It is strange but true, that whereas for many years past much +has been said and written about the hypothetical transmission +of Asiatic influences to Mexico and Central America by means +of the ship-wrecked crews of Japanese junks, the precise date +when official relations were first established between Japan and +Mexico has only just been ascertained.</p> + +<p>It is Señor C. A. Lera, the actual Mexican Envoy Extraordinary +and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan and China, who +deserves the credit of having instituted researches in archives +and annals of Japan and succeeded in finding therein the documentary +evidence which a countryman of his, Angel Nuñez Ortega, +had vainly endeavored to find in the national archives of +Mexico.</p> + +<p>With the coöperation of Father Steichen, a learned missionary +residing in Japan, who is known as the author of a History +of Japanese Commerce, Señor Lera obtained translations of important +original documents, and incorporated them in a report +to the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, which was privately +printed in Tokio in pamphlet form a few months ago, under +the title of “First Official Relations Between Japan and Spain +With Respect to Mexico.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + +<p>On reading Señor Lera’s valuable contribution I found evidences +that he was unacquainted with the scholarly monograph +privately published in Mexico in 1879, by the distinguished +scholar and diplomat, Señor Ortega, under the title “Historical +Note on the Political and Commercial Relations Between Mexico +and Japan in the XVIIth Century.” I found moreover that +although Señor Lera refers to it, neither of the above writers +had ever read that most valuable document, the detailed report +of his embassy submitted to Viceroy Mendoza, by the first ambassador +ever sent from New Spain to Japan. This is contained in +Vol. VIII of that monumental work published in Madrid: Collection +of unedited documents relating to the discovery and conquest +and organization of ancient Spanish possessions in America and +Oceania.</p> + +<p>Finding myself deeply interested in the facts preserved in +the above disconnected monographs, it occurred to me that I +could not send to the San Francisco meeting of the Anthropological +Association a more acceptable communication than a compilation +of all three publications, with translations of the original +documents contained therein. In preparing this I found it necessary, +in order to fill certain gaps, to refer to a number of works +on Japan, and also to incorporate certain data contained in a +newspaper article recently published in the City of Mexico by +the erudite Father V. de P. Andrade. I venture to believe that +the data collectively presented here, for the first time in English, +will be of interest and value, not only to historians and ethnologists, +but also to the general public.</p> + +<p>To them it will doubtless be a matter of surprise, as it was +to me, to learn that it was no less a personage than Tokugawa +Iyeyasu, surnamed “The Illustrious,” who, in 1598, took the +first steps towards establishing official relations with Mexico. +Iyeyasu is known to have inaugurated the policy of exclusion +and isolation, which was perfected by his grandson, Iyemitsu, +and to have organized the form of government which secured to +Japan a peace of two hundred years.</p> + +<p>At the time, however, when he conceived the desire to enter +into direct communication with New Spain, he was at the beginning +of his remarkable career. Only two years had passed since +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>Taikun Hideyoshi had bestowed upon him, as a reward for his +services as a general, the eight provinces, which were designated +“The Kwanto,” and ordered him to take up his residence at the +then unimportant town of Yedo, the present Tokio. Considering +that since 1542, when the first Portuguese trading vessels visited +Japan, the Portuguese had been enjoying the monopoly of a system +of trade by barter, it was certainly a new departure for +General Iyeyasu to attempt to establish direct communication +between his new domain and Mexico. It was his idea that this +result might be obtained if he could but induce the merchant +vessels which plied between the Philippines and Mexico to touch +at one of the ports of “The Kwanto.” With this object in view, +he sought the advice and aid of the learned Franciscan friar, +Geronimo de Jesús, who wrote for him a Spanish letter to the +governor of the Philippines, in which, as an opening to future +negotiations, Iyeyasu courteously invited the Spanish merchant +vessels to seek shelter in any of the ports situated in his domain, +if ever overtaken by the dangerous storms so prevalent in these +regions. This letter, which was written in the same year in +which the second expedition to Corea came to an end and a +number of Coreans were brought from that country to Japan, +was not sent when written, for the negotiations were suspended +by the stirring events which culminated in the famous battle of +Sekigakara, which, in 1600, established Iyeyasu’s supremacy in +Japan. It was not until 1601 that Iyeyasu found leisure to revert +to his plan, and sent Shinkiro, a wealthy merchant of the +City of Sakai, as bearer of the above letter and some costly +presents to the governor of the Philippines. The latter, deeply +involved at that time in the war which Spain was carrying on +in Cambodia against Siam, responded by saying that Iyeyasu’s +proposal pleased him extremely, and that he would accept it as +soon as he was free and able to do so. Meanwhile he begged him +to accept certain gifts in return for those which he had received +with much gratitude through the Japanese envoy Shinkiro.</p> + +<p>In the month of May of the following year, a new governor, +Don Pedro Bravo de Acuña, was appointed for the Philippines. +In September of the same year Iyeyasu dispatched Shinkiro +again with another letter, also written in Spanish by the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>Franciscan friar, Geronimo. The original draft of this interesting +document, which is preserved in Japan, is in Japanese, from +which language it was translated into French for Señor Lera, so +that he, in turn, could translate it into Spanish, from which +language I have made the following literal translation.</p> + +<p>I venture to suggest that it would be an interesting experiment +for some scholar to translate my version back into Japanese, +and to compare his translation with the original document +and verify the changes which must have been produced by its +passing through the crucible of three European languages.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Minamoto Iyeyasu of Japan, to his Lordship the Governor +of Luzon:⁠—</p> + +<p>“After a long voyage your envoy has arrived at last with +your letter. He has spoken to me of the mode of government +and the flourishing condition of your country, and, at the same +time, delivered to me the five objects which you have deigned +to send me as presents.</p> + +<p>“Although I have never had the honor to see or listen to +you, your amiable behavior makes me realize how all men are +members of a single family; which reflection has moved me +deeply.</p> + +<p>“Nothing would satisfy my desires so much as to see +merchant vessels establishing frequent communication between +my country and New Spain. In formulating this wish, it was +not only the interests of Japan which moved me, but also, in +equal measure, your own advantage. Many of your people +have assured me that it would be a considerable advantage to +them to be able to count upon a port in the Kwanto as a +shelter for their ships during tempests. They have also manifested +to me the pleasure with which they would see Japanese +vessels making voyages between the Kwanto and New Spain.</p> + +<p>“I shall await your answer with eager anticipation.</p> + +<p>“If you render me this service, I, in turn, will severely +prohibit piracy even in the most remote islands of Japan, and, +if you so desire, I will condemn all pirates to death. You, in +turn, can execute all Japanese who in the Philippines violate +your laws. If any of the merchants who with my authorization +visit your country, prove to be rebellious to your authority, +I will, upon being informed of their names, prohibit their +embarking again.</p> + +<p>“Although unworthy of you, deign to accept as a sign of +friendship the Japanese suit of armor, which I send you.</p> + +<p>“My ambassador will tell you all that I have failed to +express in this letter.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>It is related that Iyeyasu’s assurances did not disarm the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span>suspicions of the Spaniards, nor convince them that he would +or could keep his promise. Indeed the Spaniards’ fear to send +their galleons to Japan was not unfounded, for, but eight years +previously in 1596, Hideyoshi, since surnamed the “Napoleon +of Japan,” had confiscated without provocation the Spanish +vessel named “San Felipe,” and a month before the date of +Iyeyasu’s above letter another galleon, the “Espirito Santo,” +almost incurred the same fate. It was sailing with contrary +winds from Manila to New Spain, and touched the coast of Tosa +in August, 1602. It was immediately attacked by the natives +of this province, and its captain, Lope de Ulloa, had to resort +to arms in order to defend it against its assailants. As soon as +the news of this singularly inopportune episode reached Iyeyasu, +in October, he hastened to write to the governor of the Philippines, +protesting that what had occurred had been without his +knowledge and consent. He laid stress upon the amicable relations +then existing between both countries—adding that they +might almost be regarded as an alliance. Refusing to admit +that his subjects were in fault, he adroitly suggests that it was +probably only the fear of a repetition of the “San Felipe” episode, +which had caused the Spaniards to take alarm and precipitate +their departure from the Japanese coast. He adds: “Henceforth, +in case of any kind of accidents, let your people not hesitate +to take refuge in the ports of my domain, for I have sent +to all quarters severe orders relating to this matter. Through +your merchants I have learned that the eight galleons which +leave Luzon every year for New Spain desire to obtain a license +permitting them to take refuge in the ports of my country. Full +of compassion for these foreigners I have had eight licenses written +and sealed. These will preserve them from the rapacity of +the people, and thanks to them they will without fear be able +not only to take refuge in the ports and islands, but also to +land and penetrate into all villages and towns throughout Japan, +without incurring the risk of being treated as spies, even should +they devote themselves to studying the usages and customs of the +land.”</p> + +<p>While nothing could exceed the courtesy and good will expressed +in this letter, it utterly failed to reassure the governor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>of the Philippines, who could but bear in mind several recent +disastrous losses of Spanish galleons, laden with the much coveted +riches from the Spanish possessions in Asia. But fifteen +years had elapsed since Francis Drake had lain in wait at Cape +St. Lucas for the galleon expected from the Philippines, and +after robbing it of its treasures, abandoned its crew on the arid +shores of the Peninsula of California. This disaster had produced +a profound commotion throughout the Spanish colonies, +and brought infinite trouble upon the viceroy of Mexico, who was +obliged to send out a maritime expedition with orders to pursue +and punish the English corsairs. The seizure of another galleon +by a Japanese potentate had taken place but six years previously, +and now, at the very time that Iyeyasu was offering hospitality +to Spanish merchantmen, came the news of the real or imaginary +danger incurred by the vessel which had taken refuge in a Japanese +port. Considering that besides all this the memory of the +persecution and martyrdom of Roman Catholic missionaries in +1597 was still fresh, it is not surprising that the Spanish governor +took no notice of Iyeyasu’s overtures, and broke off negotiations.</p> + +<p>In the native history of Japanese Commerce (Nihon Shogyoshi) +and Kottenhamp’s “History of the Colonization of America,” +this rupture and the subsequent failures to establish the +desired commercial relations are attributed, no doubt justly, +chiefly to the powerful merchant princes of Seville, who violently +opposed any encroachment on their monopoly of Asiatic +trade. Six years later, however, in 1608, the situation suddenly +changed. A new governor, Don Rodrigo de Vivero, came to +the Philippines, where, at that period, there existed a colony of +about fifteen thousand Japanese. The principal Japanese merchants +residing in Manila petitioned him to resume the interrupted +negotiations, and an ambassador sent by Iyeyasu insisted, +at the same time, upon the advantages that would accrue to Spanish +interests by a friendly treaty with Japan.</p> + +<p>Iyeyasu’s ambassador, in this case, was the Englishman William +Adams, a native of Gillingham, Kent, who shares, with his +companion Timothy Shotten, the distinction of being the first +Englishmen who went to Japan. Both served as pilots on a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>Dutch ship, the “De Liefde,” which had sailed from Texel at +the mouth of the Zuyder Zee in 1598 with four other vessels +and was wrecked at Bunzo, in Japan, on April 19, 1600. Adams +ingratiated himself with the Japanese, volunteered to instruct +them in the art of ship-building, and won the Emperor’s notice +by offering to teach him geography and geometry. Received at +court, he rapidly rose in favor. The title “Hatamoto,” or Noble, +was conferred upon him, and he became not only Iyeyasu’s influential +adviser, but was employed, as in this case, as the emperor’s +envoy in establishing commercial relations with foreign +countries.</p> + +<p>Won over by William Adams’ representations, backed by the +petition presented by the Japanese residents of Manila, Governor +Vivero agreed to renew negotiations at once, and commissioned +the leaders of the Japanese colony to write two letters for him +in their language. These and some gifts were entrusted to William +Adams, who was likewise placed in command of the next +Spanish vessel which was sent to Japan. In the first letter, addressed +to Iyeyasu, the interruption of negotiations and its cause +were wisely ignored, and great stress was laid upon “the amiable +sympathy which from olden times had bound one nation to the +other,” and assurances were given that “far from wishing to +abandon it or allowing it to become lukewarm, it would be his +aim diligently to tighten the bonds of their long friendship.” +He states, immediately afterwards, that a number of turbulent +characters having promoted sedition and made disturbance in +the Japanese colony at Manila, he had adopted the course of +sending them back to Japan. According to Father Steichen not +less than two hundred Japanese were thus expelled from Manila. +Governor Vivero adds that their troublesome behavior would +certainly not prevent him from receiving any peaceful Japanese +merchants who might come to the Philippines. With respect +to such nothing had changed. He continues: That he was sending +a vessel to Japan, and had given orders to William Adams to +take shelter by preference in a port in the “Kwanto.” In case, +however, that contrary winds should impede the vessel’s course, +he had no objection to any other port being entered, now that +the whole of Japan was under Iyeyasu’s Lordship. He did not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>doubt that his captain and his people would meet with a good +reception, and he begged, at the same time, that the Catholic +friars residing in Japan should be well treated. In the second +letter, addressed to the shogun, Hidetada, Iyeyasu’s son, in whose +favor the latter had resigned in 1605, Vivero announced the +sending of a galleon, and states that he would be obliged if the +shogun would send Japanese vessels, but not more than four a +year, to the Philippines, and he requests that he view with +benevolence the friars and priests who were living in Japan.</p> + +<p>By the time that these letters reached their destination, eight +years had elapsed since Iyeyasu had made his first attempt to +open negotiations. Vivero, the enterprising and enlightened governor +of the Philippines, henceforth became his ally, and, as we +shall see, conducted the first Japanese embassy to Mexico.</p> + +<p>The credit of having established amicable relations should be +given to William Adams, whose influence over Iyeyasu finally +opened to the Spaniards the Port of Uraga, the most commodious +and flourishing port of Japan, situated in the Province of +Sagami, a day’s journey from Yedo. An imperial decree, dated +1608, was posted at the entrance of this port, threatening severe +penalties to all who might molest the merchantmen from Luzon.</p> + +<p>The answers to Governor Vivero’s letters, which were soon +sent, express Iyeyasu’s and his son’s pleasure at the realization +of their desire.</p> + +<p>With regard to the Japanese who had been forcibly expelled +from Manila, Iyeyasu simply remarks:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“In your country the government and the people live in +harmony, the inhabitants treat each other with good will and +courtesy, and extend even to foreigners the same general benevolence. +In Japan we also have just laws, and all are governed +with equity. Consequently we have no thieves nor malefactors. +Therefore, if the Japanese who are in the Philippines +commit injustices, pray condemn them to death.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>In a letter dated October 2, 1608, Hidetada reiterates his +father’s assurances that Spanish vessels might visit Japan without +fear, and expressed the desire that future communications +should be more frequent between both countries.</p> + +<p>Perfect harmony having thus been established, friendship +increased between the Japanese and Spaniards, and the galleon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>which navigated between Manila and Acapulco regularly touched +at Uraga.</p> + +<p>In the following year a change of governor took place in the +Philippines, and Don Juan de Silva, the new governor, hastened +to announce to Iyeyasu his arrival in Luzon, and his intention +to continue to send vessels to Japan. He seized this opportunity, +however, to inform the emperor that a number of Japanese +residents in the Philippines were fomenting revolt and disturbing +the peace. In answer to the latter complaint, Iyeyasu +sent the governor a copy of the severe laws applied to criminals +in Japan, directing him to apply these laws in punishing the +seditious Japanese in the Philippines. He ends with the assurance +that the friars in Japan were being treated with sympathy +and good will. Considering that, in 1597, twenty-six Christians +and foreign friars, among them a native of Mexico, San Felipe +de Jesús, were crucified at Nagasaki, the imperial assurances that +he viewed the friars with benevolence and good will must have +been extremely welcome to Governor Vivero.</p> + +<p>Three months subsequently, Hidedata, who vied with his +father in liberality and affability, renewed the privilege granted +to Spanish vessels to enter all Japanese ports indiscriminately, +and sent their captains copies of an official permission, dated +November 2, 1609, which reads as follows:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The vessels sailing from Luzon to New Spain may freely +enter all ports in Japan and take shelter therein in stormy +weather.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>In this same year a strange combination of circumstances +occurred, which afforded the Japanese rulers an unexpected opportunity +not only of demonstrating their good will towards +the Spaniards, but of giving a proof of their good faith and +generosity. Don Rodrigo de Vivero, the retiring governor of +the Philippines, sailed from Luzon for New Spain on the 25th +of July, in a vessel named the “San Francisco,” escorted by two +galleons. Overtaken by a storm, the “San Francisco” and one +of the galleons were wrecked on the shores of Japan. As soon +as the Japanese learned that the ship-wrecked crews were Spaniards, +and that among them was the former friendly governor +of the Philippines, they hastened to offer them shelter and food. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>Vivero dispatched two messengers to the Japanese court to inform +the emperor and the shogun of his misfortunes. Whereupon +they not only invited him and his companions to the capital, +but with spontaneous liberality promised a restitution of +all the merchandise, etc., which could be saved from both wrecks. +Iyeyasu generously offered to part with one of the best vessels, +which had been constructed for him by William Adams, and +likewise to lend him four thousand ducats, with which to man +and provision the ship, which was named “San Buenaventura.” +Vivero was also loaded with presents for the King of Spain and +Viceroy of Mexico, and was requested to exert his influence towards +the sending of a Spanish ambassador to Japan.</p> + +<p>It appears that Vivero took advantage of his sojourn in Japan +to prejudice the Japanese rulers against the Portuguese, who had +hitherto enjoyed the sole privilege of exporting gold from Japan. +He likewise attempted to have this privilege transferred to the +Spaniards.</p> + +<p>An interesting fact connected with this visit, and to which I +will revert, is that Iyeyasu requested that as many as fifty expert +miners be sent to Japan from Mexico in order to teach the +Japanese the most advantageous methods of working their gold +mines, the principal one of which was situated in the Island of +Sado.</p> + +<p>Governor Vivero, having consented to take with him to New +Spain a certain number of Japanese merchants, so that they +might learn the way, and also study commercial conditions, stipulated +that the price of the vessel ceded to him might be payable +in Spanish merchandise.</p> + +<p>On the first of August, 1610, after having enjoyed Japanese +hospitality for over a year, Vivero and his countrymen embarked +for New Spain with twenty-three Japanese merchants, who were +under the leadership of two noblemen named Tanaka Shosake +and Shuya Ryusai.</p> + +<p>In Mexico City, where they arrived towards the end of the +year, the Japanese were presented by Vivero to the viceroy, Don +Luis de Velasco the Second, who received them well and stood +sponsor at the baptism of at least one of the two Japanese noblemen, +who returned to Japan bearing the Christian name Francisco +and the viceroy’s family name, Velasco.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p> + +<p>The singularly noble conduct of the Japanese towards the +ship-wrecked sailors at a time when all nations accepted the +principle of “<i>jus littoris</i>” could but make a particularly deep +impression upon the viceroy, who in the year 1600, for instance, +had granted a concession to the inhabitants of the coast of the +Gulf of Mexico, which legally authorized them to appropriate all +ship-wrecked goods. Moved by gratitude, or as Father Caro +prefers to state, by his ardent desire for the aggrandizement of +New Spain, the viceroy determined to exert a prerogative usually +confined to sovereigns, and to send an ambassador to Japan, entrusted +with a letter in which he expressed to the Japanese rulers +his gratitude and appreciation of the great charity and liberality +towards his ship-wrecked countrymen.</p> + +<p>Mexican historians have differed as to the name of the ambassador +appointed, but an original document preserved in the +archives of the Indies proves, beyond a doubt, that it was General +Sebastian Viscaino, who in this document is twice mentioned +as being a son of the viceroy.⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> It has already been mentioned that the contents of this valuable document +have not been discussed by Señor Ortega, Father Andrade or Señor +Lera, who erroneously states in a footnote on page 23 of his monograph +that the texts of the two letters from the Japanese sovereigns are contained +in Vol. VIII of the collection of unedited documents; whereas this contains +only the texts of Spanish letters addressed by General Viscaino to the emperor +and shogun.</p></div> +</div> + +<p>The memory of Don Sebastian Viscaino is intimately associated +with California, for, in 1596, he was commissioned by the +King of Spain to make a voyage of discovery to California, and, +as is well known, sailed from the Port of Acapulco with three +vessels and reached the Port of La Paz, where he established +himself, built a church and dispatched a series of expeditions +westward. This expedition ended somewhat disastrously on account +of the discontent of the soldiers under his command, but in +1602 he was appointed Captain General of an expedition sent by +order of Phillip III and fitted out by the Count of Monterey, viceroy +of Mexico. During this voyage, which lasted nine months, +the whole coast of Southern California was carefully surveyed. +After reaching Cape Mendocino, they proceeded as far north as +45 degrees north latitude, but he was forced to return to Acapulco +on account of illness and mortality amongst his men.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + +<p>The account of his embassy to Japan, evidently written under +his dictation by the secretary of the expedition, is divided into +twelve chapters, and fills ninety-seven printed pages in the collection +of unedited documents to which I have already referred. +This document, which is full of interesting and valuable information +concerning the avowed and secret aims of his mission, gives a +detailed account of its history. It enables one clearly to recognize +moreover the manifold causes and events which within a +few years wrought so complete a change in Iyeyasu’s views, and +which culminated in the banishment of foreigners, the extirpation +of Christianity, and the complete isolation of Japan for +centuries.</p> + +<p>On the 22nd of March, 1611, Viscaino sailed in a vessel +named the “San Francisco” from Vera Cruz, accompanied by +the Japanese nobleman now known as Don Francisco de Velasco, +twenty-two Japanese merchants, a commissary and six friars +of the Franciscan order, a captain named Palacios and a crew +of fifty-two.</p> + +<p>Before launching into Viscaino’s report, of which I shall give +a literal translation, excepting where abbreviations and commentaries +are necessary, let us read the Japanese records of the foregoing +events, which were indirectly communicated by the well-known +scholar, Mr. Ernest Satow, to Señor Nuñez Ortega, in +1879. They demonstrate that in the 17th century, as now, the +official records of Japan were written with a brevity and reticence +which causes so many modern Japanese war dispatches to +read more like our weather reports:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The Sairan Igen of Arai Haku Seki (B. 1657, D. 1725) +says: In the 15th year of Keycho (1600) a merchant vessel +belonging to New Spain was driven by a storm on the east +coast of Japan and considerably damaged. The government +ordered that it should be repaired, and provisions having been +supplied it was started to depart. In the summer of the 17th +year (1612), an ambassador came from that country on a +complimentary mission, to return thanks. Amongst the presents +was a self-sounding bell (clock), and our manufacture of +this article commenced from this date.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> +</blockquote> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> This clock is still preserved in the temple of Kino-San, near Shizouka, +Province of Suraga. An inscription records its history, and a small metal +plate, fastened to it, records that it was made in Madrid.</p></div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p> + +<p>The same annals preserve the following report, made to their +government by the Japanese merchants on their return from +New Spain:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Some of our sailing merchants departed in company with +this embassy. They (the merchants) returned in the following +year, and stated that the country visited was populous +and productive. They also reported that the foreigners had +thanked them, saying: ‘Our countries are far apart and navigation +is difficult. Pray do not come again.’”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>It is, of course, evident that this blunt intimation that their +presence was not desired in New Spain emanated from the same +monopolists who had caused the rupture of negotiations in 1602, +and who, later on, obtained a royal decree, limiting the traffic +between Mexico and Japan to one galleon a year, and putting restrictions +upon the value of the cargo it carried.</p> + +<p>From Viscaino’s report we learn that the relations between +the Japanese merchants and the Spanish crew of the “San Francisco” +were decidedly strained. He relates that, at the beginning +of the voyage, the Japanese gave trouble on account of +their haughtiness and rudeness to the sailors—especially “concerning +matters of the kitchen,” and by their high-handedness. +The general put an end to this state of affairs by ordering that +no Spaniard was to interfere with a Japanese, nor lay hands +on him, nor give occasion for dispute, under penalty of death. +The same threat was made to the Japanese, and they were enjoined +to be civil, and to come to him whenever any difficulty +presented itself, and to avoid all disputes and quarrels with the +sailors. Viscaino likewise threatened that if any Japanese were +insolent, he would have him hanged from the yardarm, and +would report him to the Japanese emperor, of whom it was +known that he did not like his vassals to be insolent—especially +when they were being treated to such a good voyage. Whereupon, +it is recorded, the Japanese were so filled with fear that they “restrained +their pride and haughtiness, became more docile than +lambs,” and gave no cause for complaint during the remainder +of the voyage. Their leader was the first to set an example of +changed behavior. Viscaino invited him to his table, considering +it expedient, as he says, to please and satisfy him, in view of +the fact that upon his report to the emperor would depend the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>manner of reception accorded to the Spaniards by his Imperial +Majesty, and the dispatch with which permission would be obtained +to set out from said Empire of Japan for the discovery of +said islands of gold and silver, which constituted the principal +aim of this expedition.</p> + +<p>It is interesting to note that in the letters which General +Viscaino sent by messengers to the emperor and his son, on his +arrival in Japan after a voyage of eighty days, he emphasized +how much respect and honor had been accorded to the Japanese +merchants during the voyage, but refrained from all mention of +the islands of gold and silver, which it was his main object to +discover.</p> + +<p>General Viscaino’s letter to Iyeyasu reads as follows:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Most Serene Emperor of the kingdoms and provinces of +Japan:⁠—</p> + +<p>“Sebastian Viscaino, General and Ambassador of his Majesty +the King of Spain, Phillip III, and also of the Marquis +of Salinas, Viceroy of New Spain and the King’s Lieutenant, +as well as the Friar, Peter Baptist, of the Order of St. +Francis, make known unto your Majesty that, to-day, Saturday, +the 10th of June, 1611, we have reached this Port of +Uraga in a vessel in which we sailed from the Port of Acapulco, +in New Spain, on the 22nd of March of this year. We +have come to this kingdom directly for the sole purpose of +bringing you the news that said Marquis received the embassy +and presents which you sent through Friar Alonzo +Munoz, and also to bring to this realm Josquendono and +your other vassals who went last year with Don Rodrigo de +Vivero to New Spain, as well as to return the money which +by your order was lent to Don Vivero and the value of the +ship ‘San Buenaventura,’ which said Marquis purchased in the +name of my lord and king. It was not considered expedient +to return here in said vessel for reasons of which Josquendono +and the other Japanese will inform you. They will tell you at +the same time how, during their voyage to and from New +Spain, they were respected and honored and given presents on +account of their being your servants and vassals. While the +said Marquis could have sent them back by the Islands of +Luzon, he did not do so, considering that voyage would be +long and dangerous, not only on account of difficult navigation +but because they, the money and the value of the ship +which we are bringing to your Majesty, in the name of my +lord and king, might have been endangered on account of +the number of Dutch pirates, whose vessels are in the vicinity +of the Islands, and who are going about robbing and in revolt +against my lord and king.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span></p> + +<p>Viscaino closes his letter by humbly begging permission to go +to court in order to “kiss the emperor’s hands,” and by an +allusion to the existing relations of peace and good understanding +which it is his mission to promote.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding these relations, the general found it necessary, +before landing his Spanish crew, to confer with the governor +of the port and the commander of the Japanese fleet of +junks as to the best method of avoiding quarrels and disputes +between the Spaniards and Japanese. He issued orders that, +under penalty of death, no Spaniard was to draw his sword or +any other arm against the Japanese—nor use violence against +Japanese women, nor take anything from any one against his +will.</p> + +<p>A great number of Japanese visited the Spanish vessel, +among them many noblemen. These were received with honors +by Viscaino, who “offered them chairs and gave them sweets, +which they soaked in sherry, which they liked extremely.”</p> + +<p>He records complacently that the Japanese merchants and +their leader, Josquendono, departed at once for the court of the +emperor, in order to give him an account of their voyage, in +which they expressed the excellent treatment they had received +from the Spaniards. But since we know the nature of the official +report of their voyage, made by some of these same merchants, +who must also have harbored resentment at the threats employed +by Viscaino on ship-board, we may be prompted to doubt whether +all accounts were as favorable as that of Josquendono, who had +been won over by Viscaino. An insight into an existing undercurrent +of ill will towards the Spaniards is afforded by Viscaino’s +remark, “that it was indeed well that they had come +directly to Japan, for their arrival with the Japanese merchants +contradicted the rumors which had been rife, and which had +spread the belief that the Spaniards had deceived the emperor; +that the money lent to Vivero would never be returned, and +that the Japanese who went to New Spain were enslaved and +made to serve the Spaniards.”</p> + +<p>In a few days Viscaino received a gracious communication, +signed by several court officials, informing him that the shogun, +Hidedata, had received his letter with great pleasure, and granted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>him permission and all facilities to visit him immediately at his +court. In the five junks placed at his disposal Viscaino at once +embarked with an escort of thirty Spaniards, armed with muskets +and arquebusses, and with the friars and a few of the Japanese +whom he had brought from New Spain.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the river Yedo he was met by the commander +of the junks, who made great demonstrations of joy +and offered him a Japanese collation. The Spaniards responded +by a salutation of musketry and arquebusses and by the beating +of the drum. On the main mast of the ambassador’s junk they +flew the royal standard, and at the stern floated another royal +standard, made of Castilian silk, along with an infantry flag with +its streamers, all of which, it is related, gave great pleasure to +the Japanese beholders who crowded the banks of the river that +was filled with innumerable junks.</p> + +<p>On landing, the Spaniards were hospitably entertained at the +house of the commander, and were assigned a fine residence, +whither a nobleman, followed by a numerous suite, came with a +message from the shogun. The general went out to meet him +at the door, his escort being drawn up in line. The Japanese +nobleman was most polite, bowing to the ground, according to +native usage. The ambassador followed the Spanish mode, and +made a great display of politeness—particularly at the door, +where there was much discussion as to who should enter first.</p> + +<p>The nobleman expressed the shogun’s hope that the Spaniards +were resting and contented in his domain. He informed +them that his messenger had orders to provide amply for the +general and his escort, and that they would be given six meals +a day, for the expenses of which he was sending gold and silver +instead of the customary rice, which was used in barter. On the +following day he sent two cooks, many servants and an abundance +of game and fish. Two kitchens were set up in which meals +were respectively prepared in Spanish and Japanese styles. The +shogun’s messenger returned to investigate whether all was being +attended to, and was invited to dine by the ambassador, who +found that his guest cared less for his meat than for his sherry, +but was unwilling or unable to respond when his host drank his +health for the second time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> + +<p>On the next day, Tuesday, another messenger was sent by +the shogun, announcing that on Wednesday, if the weather were +fine, Viscaino would be permitted to deliver his embassy. This +message was communicated by two noblemen, who then inquired +whether Viscaino had it in mind to adapt himself to the ancient +court etiquette of the rulers of Japan, which required that, in +the imperial presence, he would have to kneel on both knees and +remain with his hands and head on the floor until the shogun +gave the sign for him to rise. The Spanish ambassador promptly +answered that he did not intend to do any such thing, but would +adhere to Spanish court etiquette, would make the bows and +render homage to the emperor in the same way as he would to +his own lord, the King of Spain. He also announced that he +would refuse to lay aside his sword and dagger, or remove his +boots, and that the chamberlain would have to assign him a seat +near enough to the shogun to be able to hear what the latter +said. This answer caused much consternation and discussion and +an exchange of messages. Finally the general threatened that +if he were not allowed to deliver his embassy according to +Spanish etiquette, he would return to New Spain without delivering +the viceroy’s letter or presents, and would merely report +that he had brought back the Japanese merchants, and returned +the money lent to Vivero. Upon this the shogun’s counsellors +courteously reminded him that, when received at the Japanese +court, Don Rodrigo Vivero, who was not only a cavalier and +relative of the viceroy, but had also been governor of Luzon, +had made no objections, and had entered the presence of the +shogun in the way that was required of him. Ambassador Viscaino +replied that all this was perfectly true in the case of Don +Vivero, who personally was worthy of the highest consideration, +but the latter had come to this court because he had been ship-wrecked +and lost, and because necessity compelled him to seek +aid and means to proceed to New Spain. He was then in such +dire necessity that he was not to blame for any act of submission +he may have made, since he came to implore succor and naturally +was grateful to the ruler of this country who afforded +him aid. It was in consideration of all this that the viceroy +had dispatched the present embassy to escort the Japanese merchants +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>home and to express the good will of their Catholic majesties. +He added, what was not quite true, that he had not come +to ask for anything, nor to bring merchandise, nor to reap gain +or profits, but solely for the purpose of delivering his embassy. +He repeated, however, that he would sooner depart without delivering +it than allow the authority of king and viceroy to be +lowered one fraction of its grandeur, for his king was the greatest +lord on earth. Viscaino’s arrogant utterances naturally gave +offense to the shogun’s messengers; they returned to the palace +greatly nonplussed, and affairs came to a standstill.</p> + +<p>It was then that the shogun wisely summoned a meeting of +the presidents of the councils of state and government, and +other high officials, who, after lengthy debates, finally formulated +the decree that the Spanish ambassador was to be permitted +to fulfill his “mission according to his own usage as best he +could.” It was moreover decided that it was only when he spoke +in the name of his king that he was to be permitted to occupy +the same platform as the shogun who, seated, would receive the +viceroy’s letter and presents. Having delivered these, the ambassador +was to descend a step, and there deliver his present to +the shogun, after which he was to seat himself. The decree +concluded with the resolution that as much honor and mercy as +possible was to be conceded to the first ambassador from New +Spain. All difficulties having thus been overcome by the good +will and courtesy of the Japanese, the audience took place on the +following morning.</p> + +<p>The shogun sent four thousand soldiers of his guard to escort +the Spaniards to his palace. The latter formed a group and proceeded +in solemn procession, headed by the captain and pilot +of the Spanish vessel, followed by members of its crew, and a +sergeant, who bore the banner with three streamers, each held +by a man. The standard came next, with its three streamers, +the ambassador holding it with his right hand. Friar Luis Sotelo, +the commissary of the Franciscan order, walked at one side +with General Viscaino, and two Franciscan friars at the other, +this group being preceded by the commander of the junks and +another Japanese nobleman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p> + +<p>The rear-guard was formed by the secretary of the expedition, +a sergeant, and the general’s negro drummer, whose appearance +and drumming made a great commotion, and attracted a +numerous crowd. A detachment of the Japanese guard marched +in front of the Spaniards and another behind. At the fifth door +of the palace they were met by the chamberlain and other officials +and were led into a waiting room, where the ambassador +sat for a little while. Thence they were ushered through an +inner, richly decorated hall, into a great court-yard, where stood +more than a thousand royal princes and knights, each one wearing +a helmet on which his insignia of rank was displayed. To +them the ambassador made the courtesies and bows which he +considered they were entitled to, beginning with the highest in +rank. He records that they responded by folding their hands +and bowing until their heads touched the ground. Passing on +to another square, the ambassador came into the presence of the +shogun, seated in his royal robes on cushions and rich carpets. +To his right, at a distance, sat his nine counsellors, and, at a +lower level, his steward, chamberlain, and secretary. A sign +was made to the ambassador to approach, and he did so, all +present observing him in profound silence. First of all he made +three bows, which were not very deep, and lowered the staff he +carried until it nearly touched the ground. He then advanced +six paces to a lower platform and made three bows, which were +slightly lower than the preceding ones. The next three bows he +made, while standing on the lowest platform, were still more +profound. Then he placed on his head the viceroy’s letter, and, +after making three more bows, deposited it on the platform. +During all this time the shogun and his counsellors were observing +the ambassador and his extraordinary performances +with unconcealed merriment, which the Spanish attributed entirely +to the fact that before this the Japanese had never seen a +full dress Spanish costume. Viscaino’s raiment is described as +being very fine. His cap was adorned with feathers and a gold +band. His sword and dagger were gilt, his boots were white +with buttons, and his frill was of the finest lace.</p> + +<p>Showing evidence of being pleased, the shogun beckoned to +his secretary, and gave him an order to lead the ambassador to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>the seat prepared for him, also to tell him that the shogun was +glad to have seen him—especially after all the hardships of the +long sea voyage. The thought of not seeing land for eighty-one +days seemed to the shogun to be truly dreadful. The ambassador +replied, through the interpreter, that he kissed his Highness’ +hands for the great condescension that he was showing him, and +that, as far as the hardships were concerned, which he had +undergone and was yet to undergo on the return voyage, he had +come to regard them as gifts ever since he had come into the +presence of such a prince. When this speech was translated by +the secretary, the prince bowed his head several times towards +the ambassador to express his thanks. Viscaino then arose, and +after a very profound obeisance presented the viceroy’s gifts. +Up to the present the Spanish ambassador had had everything +his own way, but now occurred an episode which was probably +unexpected. After a moment’s silence, the prince waved his +hand with great majesty, and two chamberlains approached the +ambassador and led him out of the audience chamber. After +a little while, during which the shogun examined the vice-regal +presents, Viscaino was again led into the hall, which he entered +as he had made his exit, performing the same series of triple +bows. This time, it is related, these bows were more profound, +a sign that the ambassador had been impressed with great respect +for the shogun’s authority. The latter informed him, +through his chief counsellors, that he much esteemed the gifts, +and that, if the general would like the Spanish soldiers and +servants to see him, they would be permitted to enter the audience +room. The ambassador then made another bowing exit, +and returned with his men, who were, as he takes pains to record, +“booted and armed.” The shogun examined them with evident +curiosity. The friars were then presented, and offered him their +gifts themselves, two of them being excellent interpreters.</p> + +<p>Each time that the friars addressed a word to the ambassador, +he, although in the presence of the shogun, arose and +made them an humble and respectful bow, thus demonstrating +his reverence for their priesthood, an observance which, he says, +impressed the shogun and his counsellors. At the end of a +quarter of an hour, during which the prince contemplated the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>Spaniards, he made a sign to two of his chief counsellors, who +again went to the ambassador and led him out of the hall. He +was then requested to allow the shogun to view the portraits of +the King and Queen of Spain, which were intended for the emperor. +When these were sent for and brought before the shogun, +he arose and dismissed every one from the audience room and +sent a message to the ambassador, telling him that he was to +return to his lodgings, and that the portraits would be sent back +to him later. It is recorded that he and his consort and the ladies +of the palace particularly enjoyed seeing the portrait of the +Spanish queen, on account of her beauty and rich costume, which +to them seemed very strange.</p> + +<p>On receiving his dismissal, the ambassador set out as he +had come, but received the injunction that no volleys of musketry +were to be fired as long as he was inside the palace precincts. +Once outside, to the great delight of the Japanese, the +Spanish soldiers began to fire loud volleys of musketry, with +such rapidity that in an hour they had used a whole barrel of +powder.</p> + +<p>The following days were spent in making visits and presents +to the court officials, and on St. John’s day the ambassador and +his men went in state to mass, at the Convent of San Francisco, +in order, as is stated, to honor the feast of the Saint, and also to +give an example to the Japanese to go to church and respect the +priests.</p> + +<p>At mass they offered a thanksgiving for the mercy that during +their stay in the city there had been no accident or bloodshed +such as might have been expected. At the Elevation of the +Host, volleys were fired and the royal standard and banner +were lowered to the base of the altar. On their way to the convent +the Spaniards were met by Masumane, the mighty Lord of +the Province of Oxo, who was awaiting them on horseback, accompanied +by two thousand soldiers and many mounted horsemen. +This noble prince, who was to become the friend and protector +of the Spaniards and all Christians, is described as so powerful +that, in case of warfare, he could command the services of eighty +thousand men. As soon as he saw the ambassador he dismounted +and sent him a message, asking him as a favor to order the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>Spanish soldiers to discharge their firearms, because he wanted +to see and hear them do so. Acceding to this request, they discharged +two such loud volleys that he put his hands to his ears +in alarm. Frightened by the noise a number of horses threw +their riders, or rolled on the ground. Viscaino relates that the +prince and his suite were so amused at this that they nearly died +of laughter. When order was restored, the prince approached +the ambassador, and bowing to the ground, offered him thanks +and his services, and passed on with such demonstrations of politeness +and courtesy that the Spanish ambassador was led to +state that the Japanese nobility excelled in politeness all of the +nations of the world.</p> + +<p>The return journey to the Port of Uraga was made at the +expense of the shogun and with a large escort of people. About +a week later the embassy set out for the court of the emperor, +Iyeyasu, at Shizuoka, in the Province of Suraga. On their way +the Spaniards met nothing but hospitality, and on arriving at +“Corunga,” were lodged in houses adjacent to the palace. On +the following day the emperor sent a gracious message, expressing +the hope that the ambassador was sufficiently rested to come +to the palace. If not, he would be granted an audience whenever +it suited him best. Viscaino, who, it is said, was always +ready to guard his dignity and impose his will, sent answer that +he was ready to deliver his embassy, but that he first desired to +know how the ceremony was expected to be. He, for his part, +refused to remove his sword, dagger and boots, nor would he +kneel upon the floor; what is more, it was his wish and intention +to be accompanied by his armed men bearing the insignia of +war, the standard, banner and drum. The answer was that the +emperor graciously permitted him to deliver his embassy according +to his own usage, but that on no account would he be +permitted to fire volleys of musketry in the imperial court. Possibly +as a means of giving the emperor an opportunity of expressing +his displeasure at the arrogance of the Spanish ambassador, it +was decided that he was to enter and leave the audience chamber +twice,—the first time as the ambassador of the king and viceroy, +the second time in his capacity of captain general.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> + +<p>On arriving at the palace, Viscaino was notified of this arrangement, +and when he made his first entrance the emperor +bowed his head in silent acknowledgment of the series of bows +with which he advanced and presented the letter and viceregal +gifts.⁠<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> These gifts consisted, in the first case, of the clock, manufactured in +Madrid, which the Japanese described as a “self-sounding bell,” and +copied with such success that Japanese clocks subsequently became famous +as articles of commerce.</p> + +<p>Besides this, the viceregal gifts consisted of the royal portraits already +mentioned; of a water-proof coat, two saddles, a roll of paper, two barrels +of Spanish wine, two sets of the implements used in falconry, and a roll of +ribbon with gold braid, such as was used in Spain to adorn gala shoes.</p></div> +</div> + +<p>When Viscaino entered the second time, he was received on +a lower platform, and the emperor with what is described as +“greater severity” bowed his head only at the captain general’s +entrance and exit, being apparently absorbed in examining the +royal portraits just received.</p> + +<p>When the friars offered their gifts, they were spoken to with +great friendliness by the emperor, who asked them many questions. +A message was sent to the ambassador, who was waiting +outside, telling him that the emperor had been pleased to see +him, that he was to go back to his lodgings, and that the emperor +would speak to him later on—a promise which was never +fulfilled.</p> + +<p>The following days were spent in an interchange of visits +with court officials. One of the ladies of the imperial palace, +a devout Christian convert named Julia, went to visit the ambassador +and hear mass at his residence. Her example was followed +by a number of Christian Japanese, who were received +with much affection by the Franciscan friars. Many other Japanese +also came and expressed their desire to be taught the Catholic +religion and to be baptized.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile General Viscaino was preparing petitions to the +emperor, which were worded as follows:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Sebastian Viscaino, Captain General of Phillip, King of +Spain, says:⁠—</p> + +<p>“That he carries an order from his king and the viceroy +of New Spain to make a survey of all the ports of this kingdom +from Nagasaki to its northernmost limits, providing your +Imperial Majesty grants the permission to do so. He is to +make charts and take soundings, so that if obliged to take +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>shelter from storms, Spanish vessels on their way from Luzon +to New Spain may know which are the best ports to enter, +and may not be wrecked and lost as heretofore. Viscaino +begs, as mercy, that a Japanese official be sent to accompany +him, and to obtain ships and provisions for him everywhere +at moderate prices. He ends with the promise that when the +survey map is made, he will send one copy to the emperor and +another to his lord and king.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>In a second petition Viscaino requests permission to build a +ship, so that when he returns to New Spain in the vessel in +which he came, he could fill the new one with Japanese products, +which he wished to take home as presents. He begs that the +emperor will aid him by issuing an order that wood, carpenters, +blacksmiths and other necessary workmen be supplied to him +at reasonable rates such as are paid by his Imperial Majesty. +He also asks that a Japanese official be placed in charge of the +building of the vessel, and adds that he would gratefully receive +this favor in the name of his king, for whom the ship was intended, +and that he would return in it to Japan in the following +year, with a view to promoting the friendship and commercial +treaty already existing.</p> + +<p>In the third remarkable petition Viscaino makes the false +assertion that he had come to Japan for the sole purpose of +bringing thither the Japanese vassals of his Imperial Majesty, +and of returning the money lent to Rodrigo de Vivero. He +claims that he had no other interests or merchandise, but admits +that he has some stuffs and cloths, which he was obliged to sell +in Japan in order to provide food for his men and to build the +ship mentioned in the previous petition. He complains that +when he attempted to sell the stuffs in the Port of Uraga, he +was prevented from doing so by some Japanese courtiers, who +stated that his Majesty needed said stuffs for his personal use. +If this is the case, he says, “the whole ship’s cargo and its men +are at the emperor’s disposal. If not, then will his Majesty +please send an order, so that now, and whenever he may return +to this land from New Spain or Luzon, General Viscaino can +sell such stuffs free from duty or taxation.” It would be well, +he adds, to settle once and for all time what was to be done, so +that one could know whether to return another time to Japan +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>and whether peace and amity are to continue. Viscaino closes +his note by stating “that in New Spain the Japanese merchants +were allowed to sell their merchandise without paying duties or +taxes of any kind.”</p> + +<p>The imperial message brought to Viscaino, after four days, +stated that the orders had been given, and that he would be permitted +to build a ship wherever he chose to do so—that the material +and workmen would be furnished him at very moderate +prices, and that the concessions to survey the ports and to sell +stuffs free of taxation would be granted him. Not satisfied with +this, Viscaino sent his expression of thanks, somewhat contradictorily +adding, “that he wished to inform the emperor that the +principal business for which he had come to Japan was to find +out whether his Majesty intended to be friends with the Dutch +and allow them to enter his realm. If so, the Spanish king would +not like his vassals to come to Japan to trade, and the peace +begun could not be continued, for many reasons which he would +explain, if permitted to do so, to his Majesty and the council.”</p> + +<p>On the next day at the house of the emperor’s secretary, +the latter and the president of the council listened attentively +to Viscaino’s representations. He asked them, in the first place, +for a written acknowledgment that he had faithfully brought +back the Japanese who had gone to New Spain, and that they +themselves had testified that they had been well treated during +their voyage. He added that if any one had any complaint to +make, he would certainly give him satisfaction. He also wished +a written acknowledgment of his having paid all that was lent +to Don Rodrigo de Vivero, and the proceeds of the sale at Acapulco +of the Japanese ship in which Vivero had made the voyage +to New Spain. He here volunteered to pay any debt that +might be found remaining due, and then asked for a return of +the bonds or bills which Vivero had left as guarantees for the +payment of the debt. The Japanese officials told him that they +considered his requests just ones, and that both of them would +immediately report to the emperor on the subject. After having +thus emphasized the faithfulness and honesty with which +he had performed his mission, Viscaino made an attack upon +the Dutch, which was to cost him and his countrymen dear. He +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>accused certain Dutch traders who had made a mercantile contract +with the emperor a year previous, of being pirates, who, +after committing many robberies, had been pursued and chastised +by the governor of the Philippines. He affirmed that they +certainly would not be able to fulfill their contract with the +emperor, and asked “what friendship could the latter have with +people who were not only thieves, but were disobedient and in revolt +against their lord, the King of Spain!” He requested his +auditors to reflect upon what he had already written on this subject +to the emperor, and also requested an answer as to whether +the Japanese intended to tolerate Dutch trade or not. He expressed +a wish not to have to leave Japan without knowing the result +of his embassy, so as to report it to the King of Spain. +Viscaino’s listeners expressed great surprise at his accusations +against the Dutch traders and withdrew. On the following day +they sent a message, saying that they had reported all he had told +them to the emperor; that as they knew he intended to spend +some time in Japan, an answer would be sent him before his departure +for New Spain; that he was to go in God’s name to the +Port of Uraga. On his return to that port, he found that the +emperor had cut off the free supply of food and lodgings +which had heretofore been given to Viscaino. Viscaino interprets +this act as a token of the displeasure the emperor was said to +have felt at the Spanish embassy having visited the court of +his son, the shogun, before his. He also accuses the emperor +of an avarice which was increasing with advancing years, and +makes other derogatory remarks concerning the aged monarch. +A few days later the Spaniards entered the domain of the shogun, +who sought to make amends for his father’s abrupt action, +and attributed it to the influence of his counsellors. Notwithstanding +Viscaino’s report against the emperor, he boasts further +on of his embassy not having cost his king one hundred +pesos, or dollars—a fact, however, which he attributes to the +shogun’s generosity and to his own practical wisdom and industry, +which enabled him, as he said, “to make a quarter of a +dollar of his Majesty’s treasury appear like a million.”</p> + +<p>A series of disappointments awaited the Spaniards at Uraga. +Their sale of stuffs did not yield as much as they expected, for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>being unknown to them, the Japanese did not appreciate the real +value of the finest woolen cloths and friezes, and would not buy +them. Then, when the cost of building a vessel was estimated, +it was found to exceed by far the means at their command; so it +was determined to repair and strengthen the vessel they had +come in, and to make the survey of the ports in it alone. It +was found necessary before starting to apply to the shogun +not only for credentials to the lords and princes who resided +in the north of Japan and were not on good terms with the +emperor, but also for the escort of a high official, who, in the +name of the shogun, was to oblige people to furnish the necessary +provisions and all assistance needed in making the survey. +The shogun, who was under the influence of Friar Luis Sotelo, +and showed a decided leaning towards Christianity, sent kindly +messages to Viscaino, and expressed the wish to see and speak +with him at length on his return concerning the friendly relations +between his country and the Spanish nation. He also sent word, +through the commander of the junks, that he had heard that +Viscaino had given up building the vessel for lack of means, +and he deplored his father’s parsimoniousness. He expressed +the desire that the emperor’s license to build the vessel be transferred +to him, as he would like to carry out the plan himself. +Viscaino states that he gave him the imperial permit on account +of being under obligations to him, and as it was important not +to offend him on account of his friendliness towards Christians. +Viscaino caused, however, a document to be drawn, in which he +ventured to impose the following conditions upon the shogun:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The ship was not to carry more than one hundred tons. +It was to be placed under his entire command; only two Japanese +were to go as stewards of the ship and of its cargo. Not +a cent was to be spent on the vessel by the Spaniards, but, on +arrival at Vera Cruz, if the viceroy desired to buy the ship, +it was to be given him at a moderate price. If not wanted, it +was to sail for Manila, or wherever the viceroy might command.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>It is needless to state that these conditions, which Viscaino +attempted to impose upon the Japanese ruler who was to defray +the entire expense of the building, were never fulfilled. What +happened will be told later on. While at Uraga, Viscaino had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>a memorable interview with William Adams, the staunch partisan +of his former employers, the Dutch, for whom, in 1611, +he had obtained permission to establish a ship-building factory at +Firando. Two Dutchmen had arrived at Uraga while Viscaino +was there, carrying many presents for the emperor, who through +William Adams’ influence received them very well, and gave +them all the permits and grants they asked for. In their name +Adams went to see the Spanish general, and demanded from +him an explanation as to “why he had told the emperor that +the Dutch were a bad people, who were disobedient and in revolt +against their king, and who went about robbing and creating +trouble.” Viscaino’s characteristic answer, which is verbally +given, was, “that it was perfectly true that he had said all that +to the emperor, and much more besides, and that he had fallen +short of the truth in describing what the Dutch were. He ended +by stating that he was ready to give them any satisfaction they +desired.” He adds, “that it was agreed that the Dutchmen were +to meet him, but that they did not dare to do so and adopted +the alternative of leaving Uraga at night without seeing him.”</p> + +<p>Viscaino little imagined when he wrote thus disparagingly +of the Hollanders, that these same men were about to secure a +monopoly of Japanese trade which was to last for as many centuries +as the dynasty of the Tokugawas.</p> + +<p>The above encounter, in which William Adams called Viscaino +to account, is of special interest, for it was to him that +Friar Cavo attributes the total failure of Viscaino’s embassy, +and the fresh persecution of the Catholics which began at about +this time.</p> + +<p>According to Cavo, the emperor, surprised at the Spanish +ambassador’s over-bearing threats and demands, asked William +Adams, his friend and adviser, whether such was the style of +European nations. The answer was an emphatic denial, followed +by a warning to the emperor “to be on his guard against +the Spaniards, because it was their desire to dominate the whole +world. For this purpose, they sent out as precursors the Jesuits, +who, under the pretext of teaching the Christian religion, incited +the people to rise in rebellion against their sovereigns. By +this method they had made themselves masters of immense possessions +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>in Asia and America. It was because they knew all this +that the Dutch had cast off the yoke of their rule, and that the +English and Germans were in warfare against them.” It was +evidently immediately after his interview with Viscaino, in which +Adams had ascertained the Spaniards’ antagonism towards the +Dutch and more besides, that he returned to the emperor’s +court, and informed his Majesty that they knew for a certainty +that the principal aim of the Spanish ambassador’s visit was +to discover certain islands of gold and silver. Adams and the +merchants then took the liberty of asking the emperor how he +could possibly have given the Spanish general permission to +make a survey of the entire coast and of all the ports of his +realm. The Spaniards, they said, were bellicose and skilled in +the use of arms, and might come with a great armada to conquer +Japan. In England and Holland no such permission would +have been given to the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>The old emperor evidently resented the criticism of his action—even +from his friends, for he loftily answered, “that if the +English and Dutch would not grant such a permission, they must +indeed be cowardly, since they admitted fear of another nation.” +He said that “he had certainly not understood that the Spaniards +had any such evil intentions, but that even if they had, +he would have given them as ample a permission as he had done. +He would have no fear even if the whole of Spain came against +him, for he had enough men to defend him, so that this matter +did not cause him the slightest anxiety. As to the islands that +were to be discovered in his realm, he would like to know where +they were—what report had been made about them and what +their riches were reputed to be. If they belonged to his crown, +he would know how to defend them, and if not, he wished the +Spaniards good luck in discovering them, and he hoped that they +would find them situated at a convenient distance, so that he +could enter into mercantile relations with them, this being what +he cared for most.” The Dutchmen then told him that the rumor +of the existence of these islands was attributable to some +Portuguese, who, being lost at sea, had come across them. They +had spent several days on them, saw that they were inhabited, +and that the land was fertile and produced gold and silver, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>they could not tell in what latitude, nor at how many leagues +from Japan the islands were situated.</p> + +<p>The emperor somewhat sarcastically rejoined that “it would +certainly require great good fortune for any one to discover +anything so vague.”</p> + +<p>Although the Dutchmen were dissatisfied at the way in which +the emperor had received their communications, they evidently +bore fruit. Soon after, a Portuguese frigate arrived, with Don +Nuño de Sotomayor, the Admiral of the Fleet of the Indies, as +ambassador to Iyeyasu and the shogun. With the presents he +offered, he made a request that the Portuguese be allowed to return +to trade in Japan, stating that they would like to do so +under certain conditions, the principal one being the removal of +the governor of Nagasaki, against whom they had made some +complaint. The emperor received them coolly and simply said +that “if they desired to come to his country, they might do so, +but that it was not for them to ask him to reform things therein, +and that he did not wish to grant their request.” The Portuguese +left without obtaining more than this rebuff, and “with +evil disposition towards the Japanese.”</p> + +<p>Doubtless the enemies of the Spaniards likewise brought to +Iyeyasu’s notice a disagreeable little episode which occurred at +about that time, and cited it as an example of Spanish commercial +dishonesty. It seems that no less a personage than a son +of the commander of the junks had entrusted a member of +Don Rodrigo Vivero’s suite with a quantity of valuable merchandise, +which was taken to Mexico and sold there. From the +proceeds the Spaniards were to buy certain woolen stuffs and +fine cloths for the Japanese nobleman’s household. The latter +learned, on Viscaino’s arrival, that the Japanese goods had been +sold in Mexico, and also that Vivero’s follower had sent him +nothing in return. It seems that it was with difficulty that the +ambassador pacified the incensed creditor, and tried to exonerate +Vivero from all blame, stating that he doubtless knew +nothing about his follower’s affairs. In order to hush the matter +up, however, Viscaino and the Franciscan friars jointly compensated +the Japanese lord with woolen stuffs of the value of seven +hundred dollars. Commenting on this, Viscaino expresses himself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>as follows, unconsciously rendering a tribute to Japanese +commercial honesty, at that period:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“This transaction was wrong and deserving of punishment—especially +with people like these, who are so punctual +and exact, and are unacquainted with such dealings.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Unfortunately, about this period, a high official in the house +of the aged emperor was found guilty of an unprecedented act +of deceitfulness and treachery, and, on being tortured, confessed +that not only he but his wife and other fellow servants had been +converted to Christianity by the Spanish friars. All were arrested +and threatened with punishment and the confiscation of +their property if they did not abjure their new faith. Many +remained firm and incurred disgrace and loss of property, +among them the lady Julia, who was expelled from the palace +with shorn head and exiled to an island.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards, under pretext of having to extend the +boundaries of the town, the Franciscan monastery at Yedo was +destroyed, and throughout the country the Christian churches +and monasteries were razed to the ground. An ill-timed speech +delivered by Viscaino during his visit to a Japanese lord was +also doubtless reported to the emperor, and must have prejudiced +him still more against the Spanish influence. Viscaino had +assured his Japanese host “that the latter could not give greater +satisfaction to the King of Spain than by allowing the friars to +enter his domain and preach to his vassals—thus establishing permanent +peace. For the King of Spain,” he said, “did not care +about trade with Japan, nor any temporal interests, for God had +given him many kingdoms and dominions. The only inducement +that his Christian Majesty had (to enter into relations with +Japan) was a pious desire that all nations should be taught the +holy Catholic faith, and thus be saved.”</p> + +<p>While the emperor, under the influence of his English and +Dutch protestant advisers, daily took more active measures to +expel the Roman catholicism introduced by the Spaniards and +Portuguese, Viscaino was sailing northward, surveying ports +and thickly populated islands, and bestowing upon them the +names of his patron saints! He little thought, as he took his +soundings, and in the absence of a Spanish cosmographer, superintended +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>the drawing of his charts by a Japanese artist, that he +had become the unconscious educator of the Japanese, and that +they, and never the Spaniards, were to make sole use of the results +of his trained skill.</p> + +<p>His charts, of which he duly sent the promised copies to the +emperor and shogun, were examined with great interest by more +than one Japanese nobleman. One lord, the coast of whose +domain he had surveyed, sent him presents and a message, saying +“that he much esteemed the trouble Viscaino was taking in +discovering towns of his dominion, that he was delighted to hear +that there were good ports in his land, and that he would much +like to see the map of demarcation and the paintings which had +been made.”</p> + +<p>Everywhere Viscaino and his companions were well received +and generously entertained. Friar Luis Sotelo accompanied him +for part of the time, and was with him when he visited Masumane, +the powerful Lord of Oxo, who had displayed such interest +in Spanish musketry at Yedo. This prince welcomed the +Spanish general, and particularly Friar Sotelo, with utmost +affection, respect and reverence, and insisted upon serving food +and drink to them with his own hands. As a pledge of a friendship +which he faithfully kept, he changed his sword for Viscaino’s +dagger, and, on receiving this, kissed its crossed handle, +and placed it on his head. He displayed his socialistic tendencies +and esteem for Christians by bestowing a title on one of his +own servants, who was a convert, and by inviting him to dine +with him and his Spanish Christian friends. Thereupon, naturally +enough, many other members of Prince Masumane’s +household crowded around the friar, kissed the hem of his robe, +and announced their intention to frequent the Franciscan monastery +and study the Christian religion. Masumane from the +first exhibited the greatest interest and inclination towards the +Catholic faith, proved himself a true friend and protector of +the Christians, and ultimately became a convert with all of his +family, and a large number of his vassals.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of December, General Viscaino had reached +40 degrees north latitude. On interrogating the natives he found +that they knew the use of the compass, and was told that there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>was a distance of about sixty leagues from the extremity of Japan +to Corea, and that before reaching Tartary, in the channel lay a +great island called Yeso, which was inhabited by people like +savages who were so covered by hair that only their eyes were +visible, and who habitually visited Japan in the months of July +and August for trading purposes. Intense cold set in, and as +Viscaino concluded that ports situated on the northwestern and +southeastern shores of Japan would be of little use to vessels +trading from the Philippines, he decided to return to Uraga, +where he arrived on the 4th of January and met the members of +his crew who had remained behind. He lingered at Uraga until +the end of May selling his woolen stuffs at Yedo, “with difficulty +and poor profits,” and then started on a survey of the coast lying +between Uraga and Nagasaki.</p> + +<p>He first went to Ito, however, where, as agreed upon, the ship +was being built by Japanese workmen under the patronage of +the shogun. He found that beyond the preparing of the timber +nothing had been done to advance its construction, and was +struck by the lukewarmness and slowness with which the work +was progressing. The general gave instructions to the shipbuilders +by word and by letter, and then proceeded on his journey. +On returning to Miaco on July 2, he had four copies +made of his survey charts, or as he calls them his “Discovery of +Japanese Ports,” these being intended for Iyeyasu, the shogun, +the King of Spain and himself. From Corunga, a week later, +he sent a message to the emperor, asking permission to start on +his homeward voyage. It is evident that the emperor understood +that Viscaino intended to sail directly to New Spain, for +he sent word that Viscaino was to go on to Uraga, whither his +answer would reach him, and there the emperor sent him a gift +and a letter for the Viceroy of Mexico. The fact of his not sending +any letter or gift to the King of Spain by Viscaino proved +that he, probably enlightened by William Adams, had not taken +very seriously Viscaino’s pretence to be the ambassador of the +king as well as of the viceroy. Viscaino, who had been informed +that the emperor was so incensed at the Christians, on +account of the treachery in his household, that no Christian +dared approach him, complains that the emperor’s answer to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>the viceroy was very different from what had been promised, +since in it his Majesty wrote “that he did not like” the Christian +religion.</p> + +<p>The complete text of this remarkable letter has just been +published by Señor Lera, who wrongly states, however, on page +23, that Spanish translations of both letters are contained on +page 185, Vol. VIII, of the “Documentos Ineditos,” and on +page 22, that the first galleon which sailed from Uraga for Acapulco +carried six letters to the viceroy.</p> + +<p>In Iyeyasu’s letter, dated July 18, 1612, which closes the official +correspondence between him and the viceroy of New Spain, +he courteously thanks the viceroy for his presents and letter, +and “expresses the hope that Heaven will permit that their +mutual relations will be as close as those which result from familiar +intercourse between neighboring countries.” He remarks +“that the interchange of merchandise could but be of mutual +advantage”; and then expounds the elements of the Japanese +religion, explaining that “in Japan, in making solemn compacts +or agreements, it was customary to appeal to the gods to +act as witnesses of their sincerity. These gods infallibly reward +those who are faithful to their promises, and punish those who +violate them.” Iyeyasu next asks, “whether the path of all +virtue is not to be found in the practice of the five virtues: Humanity, +Justice, Courtesy, Prudence, and Fidelity?”</p> + +<p>He then makes a statement which reveals too well what unfortunate +experiences he had had in his dealings with the very +people whose intercourse he had cordially desired for many +years, and what erroneous ideas concerning the Christian religion +had reached him in his seclusion within his palace walls, +for he says:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The doctrine followed in your country differs entirely +from ours, therefore, I am persuaded it would not suit us.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“In the Buddhist writings it says that it is difficult to convert +those who are not disposed towards being converted. It is +best, therefore, to put an end to the preaching of your doctrine +on our soil.</p> + +<p>“On the other hand, you can multiply the voyages of merchant +ships, and thus promote mutual interests and relations. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>Your ships can enter Japanese ports without exception. I have +given strict orders to this effect.” The presents sent with this +letter are said to have been “five pairs of gilt screens and a map +of Japan.”</p> + +<p>The shogun’s letter was brief and reserved, but entirely +friendly. He gives thanks for the viceroy’s letter and presents, +states “that intercourse and inclination, mocking at distance, +have brought them together as neighbors,” and adds “that he +would await with impatience the merchant vessel, which, once a +year, was to bring him news of the viceroy and his nation.”</p> + +<p>In conclusion he mentions three breast-plates and other pieces +of Japanese armor, which he begs the viceroy “to accept as a +proof of his devotion.”</p> + +<p>At the time this letter was written, the shogun, who did not +share his father’s views, and was under the influence of Friar +Luis Sotelo, was preparing to send an embassy to New Spain +on his own account, with a view of counteracting his father’s +severity and establishing direct relations between New Spain and +his own domain.</p> + +<p>The first step towards the execution of his plan had been his +request to Viscaino to transfer to him the emperor’s license to +build a vessel, and it would seem as though the whole affair had +been kept a profound secret from his father and from General +Viscaino. As soon as the latter had departed, presumably for +New Spain, the rigging and fitting up of the vessel, which seems +to have been purposely delayed, were rapidly completed. Five +weeks after Viscaino’s departure, Friar Sotelo sailed from Uraga +for New Spain with credentials appointing, him the shogun’s +ambassador, and with a numerous suite of Japanese. They had +barely reached the open sea, however, when they were overtaken +by a storm which drove their ship upon the rocky coast and +completely wrecked it. The fact that when building it the +dimensions planned by Viscaino had been altered and the probability +that the Japanese were as yet unskilled in the navigation +of similar vessels may in part account for the loss of the vessel. +The shogun, who, for unknown reasons, cast the entire responsibility +and blame for the disaster upon Friar Sotelo, had him cast +into prison and sentenced to death. He released and pardoned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>him, however, at the instance of Masumane, who took Friar Sotelo +to his court and made him his chief counsellor.</p> + +<p>While all this was occurring at Uraga, General Viscaino was +cruising about in search of the two islands, for it had never been +his intention to sail for New Spain until he had accomplished +what he and his father, the viceroy, had decided to be the principal +aim of his voyage, namely, the discovery of the islands +described by the Portuguese mariners. To his chagrin, he had +had to give up setting out with the second ship, as he had planned +from the beginning, for it had been built of a greater capacity, +and although he had seen it actually afloat at Uraga, it could not +be finished before he left.</p> + +<p>On the 16th of September, Viscaino, with a reduced crew, +and short of many necessary provisions, sailed from Uraga. On +the 25th, after covering more than two hundred leagues, he found +himself in the latitude in which, according to certain charts, +the islands were supposed to lie. Finding no sign of these, the +general held a consultation with the pilots on board as to what +would be the best method to pursue in searching for them. All +agreed to sail southward to 32 degrees of latitude, and did so, +coming across many signs of a proximity to land, such as floating +pieces of pumice stone, ducks and turtles. But they did not find +the islands. The general, who it is recorded would not allow +himself to think of returning to Acapulco until he had ascertained +whether the islands existed or not, gave orders to retrace +the ship’s course. They continued their search with extraordinary +diligence until October 12th, when some of the sailors became +disheartened. The pilot then declared that, to his belief, +the islands did not exist, and that he had exceeded his obligations +and the viceroy’s orders. Some of the crew mutinied, and, as +he had no armed men to back him, the general, to avoid being +killed, was obliged to pacify them with good words. On the +14th a violent storm overtook them, followed on the 18th by a +hurricane which obliged them to cut down the mainmast. For +eleven days they were in great peril, and suffered from lack of +water and food, all cooking utensils having been washed overboard. +Giving themselves up as lost, and realizing the importance +of continuing their voyage to New Spain, they held a consultation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>and decided that there was nothing to do but return +to Japan, obtain a loan from the emperor, which their king +would approve of, and make preparations to go back to New +Spain in the following year. With a vessel which owed its +escape from foundering to the lining which had been given it +in Uraga, they reached this port, where further trials and deceptions +awaited them.</p> + +<p>The first news learned by Viscaino, on reaching the harbor of +Uraga, was the history of the shogun’s attempt to send an embassy +and the loss of his vessel. The following is his characteristic +comment on this disaster:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“We found on reaching Uraga that the ship ‘San Sebastian’ +had sailed and had run aground about a league from +port, because the Japanese had insisted on carrying out their +will, and had loaded it without permission from the Spaniards. +The Japanese recognized their mistake.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>On landing, Viscaino at once sent messages to Iyeyasu and +the shogun, announcing his return and explaining his misfortunes +and the absolute necessity there was for him to obtain +means to fit himself out for his return journey to Mexico in the +following year.</p> + +<p>The answer he received was that both sovereigns were grieved +at his hardships, and that he was not to be troubled, as they +would furnish him with what was necessary; that the emperor +was about to visit his son at Yedo, and that, while there, both +would discuss what was to be done. As soon as the general heard +that the emperor had reached Yedo, he went thither to see him +and solicit the loan he had asked for. He spent five whole months +making extraordinary efforts, by means of presents and petitions, +to attain his end. He underwent many hardships and suffered +from exposure to cold—even waiting for hours by the roadside +and in the places where he expected the emperor to pass +when out hunting, but he never succeeded in speaking to him, +nor did his petitions ever reach their destination, being intercepted +by the secretaries and counsellors.</p> + +<p>All this did not correspond with what had been promised +him, and it was but natural he should abuse the Japanese, and +accuse them of bad faith, etc. Later on he learned the cause of +the treatment he had received and exonerated the emperor’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>counsellors from blame. It seems that a friar, whose name and +whose order Viscaino withholds, had sent a communication to +the emperor, stating that he had heard that the general was +soliciting a loan of six thousand dollars, to be repaid in New +Spain. He warned the emperor and his counsellors to be careful, +because Viscaino carried no authorization from the viceroy +or from the King of Spain to make a loan there, that he had +no means of repaying it, and that none of the friars would be +responsible for the debt. Naturally the emperor withheld the +loan, but kept Viscaino waiting in uncertainty for five months. +Meanwhile the latter received an offer from certain Spaniards +to loan him the sum he needed, the capital and interest to be +payable in New Spain. This offer was joyfully accepted, and +Viscaino drew up a mortgage of his and the king’s property to +give as security. But the friars warned the Spaniards also, +stating that they had their grave doubts as to whether the loan +would ever be repaid, and other things which, Viscaino says, +could not bear repetition. In his dire necessity he called together +his men, who were suffering from hunger, explained the +situation and told them that nothing remained but for him to +try to sell in Yedo at auction all he possessed—not only his negro +slave and the mattresses from his own bed, but also the merchandise +he had bought on commission for several noblemen of Mexico. +He appealed to them to follow his example, and to sell all +their personal belongings, so that they would be able to pay what +they owed, repair their vessel and sail for New Spain. He +thought that even if they had to live on rice and water alone +during the whole voyage, it would be better than “to remain in +the heathenish country they were in.” When on the next day he +endeavored to collect the clothing, etc., in order to take all to +Yedo for sale, the majority of his men excused themselves, some +hid their belongings and others sold them secretly and deserted. +Being powerless, as he says, to “exercise the power of royal +justice,” Viscaino confesses that he thought it best “to be silent +and dissimulate.” So he collected all he possessed and went to +Yedo to dispose of it, with the intention of paying his debts, and +then meeting the expenses of his return voyage by taking freight +and Spanish and Japanese passengers on his vessel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> + +<p>The Spaniards agreed to this and some Japanese were inclined +to do so, when another friar of the same order crossed +Viscaino’s plans—not only hindering the sale of his effects and +the realization of his project, but also preventing Japanese merchants +from even visiting the general’s lodgings.</p> + +<p>After making certain accusations against the friar, who +seems to have been no other than Luis Sotelo, Viscaino describes +how he became so discouraged that he actually fell ill. He was +rapidly growing worse when a new vista suddenly opened out +before him. Agents sent by Lord Masumane arrived, and offered +to employ him and his men to build a vessel and to navigate +it, when ready, to New Spain. Viscaino, who had had to relinquish +all hope of ever being able to return in his own ship, +which had become unseaworthy, only too gladly drew up a contract, +the terms of which were, as he states, most favorable to his +Majesty, the King of Spain. Masumane’s agents undertook not +only to give the remainder of the Spanish crew, consisting of +twenty-six pilots, carpenters and other workmen, the same salary +they had been receiving from the crown, but also to advance +them good wages and free transportation for themselves and +their belongings to the prince’s domain.</p> + +<p>General Viscaino, the royal constable, the surgeon and three +or four other officers were to remain in the pay of the Spanish +crown, but were to have free board and lodgings from the time +they embarked until they reached Acapulco. Over and above +these terms of agreement, which were faithfully kept by the +Japanese, Viscaino imposed upon the agents two conditions +which Masumane did not subsequently recognize. The first of +these was that all employees, whether Japanese or Spaniards, +were to be exclusively under the general’s orders. The second +was that, if, previous to sailing, no permission was received +from the viceroy of Mexico for Japanese to go to New Spain, +only a few Japanese were to be allowed to fill menial positions +on board, and only in case they were needed. This clause, similar +to that introduced by Viscaino in his previous contract, +absolutely confirms the statement of the Japanese merchants +who returned from New Spain and reported that they had been +asked not to return, and shows that the vice-regal government +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>of Mexico had received orders from Spain to follow a policy of +exclusion in order to protect Spanish-Asiatic trade.</p> + +<p>It was not until the 26th of October, 1613, that the vessel +was ready for the voyage. Viscaino complains of having had +great trouble with the Japanese, and of suffering much from the +constant interference of “a friar who had persuaded the Japanese +to help him to further a plan he had in mind.” At the last +moment, Viscaino relates, “the friar took entire command of +everything, embarked as many Japanese as he wanted, and constituted +himself Governor and Captain General of the vessel.” +The friar was no less a personage than Friar Luis Sotelo, whose +previous expedition as the shogun’s ambassador had ended so +disastrously. This time he and a Japanese nobleman, named +Hasekura Rokuyemon, set out as co-ambassadors for Masumane, +the Lord of Oxo, with a suite of one hundred and eighty Japanese, +including sixty Samurai and several merchants. They were +provided with letters not only to the viceroy of Mexico, but also +to the King of Spain and to Pope Paul V.</p> + +<p>Viscaino pathetically records that he protested in vain, and +finally, in order to avert a great disaster, was forced “to dissimulate +and to embark as a mere passenger” upon the ship he +and his men had built. He adds that the humor of the Japanese +was such that they actually would have killed him had he attempted +to do otherwise.</p> + +<p>It would seem as though Viscaino left the vessel at the first +Mexican port which was touched, for it is from Zacatula, north +of Acapulco, that Viscaino dispatched, on January 22, 1614, his +report to his father, Don Luis de Velasco, then living in Spain, +and whom he probably soon joined. He seems to have ended +his days in obscurity, for the date of his death was unknown to +his Mexican biographer, Beristian.</p> + +<p>The somewhat lengthy superscription of Viscaino’s report +conclusively reveals the true aim of his embassy, which he took +such pains to conceal from the Japanese, but of which they were +informed by William Adams and his Dutch friends. It reads as +follows:⁠—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Account of the voyage made for the discovery of the +Islands named ‘The Rich in Gold and Silver,’ situated in +Japan, Don Luis de Velasco being Viceroy of New Spain, and +his son, Sebastian Viscaino, the General of the Expedition.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> + +<p>Here ends the history of the first and last Spanish vice-regal +ambassador to Japan.</p> + +<p>Friar Sotelo’s arrival in Mexico as the ambassador of the +Protector of Christianity in Japan, and with a flock of would-be +converts, was regarded as a triumph of the church and particularly +of the deservedly much loved Franciscan order. At Acapulco, +the town officials determined to honor the members of an +embassy to the viceroy, the king and the pope with extraordinary +honors, and greeted it with salutes of artillery. Its members +were escorted with music to luxuriously appointed lodgings, +and the festivities were crowned by a gala bull-fight. The +viceroy sent orders that provisions for the journey to the capital +were to be provided, and a large mounted and armed escort was +to accompany the embassy on its long and somewhat perilous +journey. In all villages, towns and cities along their route the +travelers were received with military music and triumphal +arches. Carpets strewn with pieces of gold were spread on their +pathway, and they were lodged and lavishly entertained at the +royal houses. In the capital, where they were anxiously expected, +they were lodged in a palace near the Convent of San Francisco, +where they were at once visited by the archbishop, the judges +and officers of the inquisition and the high nobility and gentlemen +of Mexico.</p> + +<p>Having opportunely arrived in Holy Week, the Japanese +were able to witness the solemn processions and impressive religious +ceremonies held in the cathedral and churches of Mexico, +the interiors of which were beautifully decorated with flowers. +They were so impressed with what they saw that seventy-eight +members of the Japanese ambassador’s suite expressed their +desire to be baptized. This sacrament was performed in the +Church of San Francisco with great solemnity and the sanction +of the archbishop’s presence, members of the highest nobility +acting as sponsors. Subsequently the Japanese ambassador expressed +his desire to be baptized, but after consultation the archbishop +and the commissary-general of the Franciscan order advised +him to defer this ceremony until his arrival at the Spanish +court.</p> + +<p>It is recorded that on the day the Japanese ambassador went +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>to “kiss the hand” of the viceroy, he distributed new liveries +to his servants and went in state to the palace, with a mounted +escort.</p> + +<p>The viceroy, Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova, Marquis of +Guadalcazár, who received him with great delight and courtesy, +expressed his satisfaction at the embassy’s having been sent from +Japan. He consented to give the Japanese passports allowing +them to go to Spain, but informed them that it would be necessary +for them to obtain from the King of Spain permission to +return to Mexico; a detail which again reveals the existence of +an established policy of exclusion.</p> + +<p>On account of the difficulties of transporting so many persons, +it was decided that the majority of the ambassador’s suite was +to remain in Mexico. The baptized converts were sent back to +Acapulco, and the few merchants who had accompanied the +embassy remained in the country, doubtless studying its products +and manufactories. The mercantile relations with Mexico, +which are said in the “Japanese History of Commerce” to have +been kept up until 1636, when they entirely ceased, were probably +established by these merchants and limited to Masumane’s +domain.</p> + +<p>Friar Sotelo, Masumane’s ambassador, his relatives and the +sixty Samurai departed for Vera Cruz, visiting Puebla, where +bull-fights and tournaments were held in their honor, and where +they were lodged in the Franciscan monastery.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of June, after spending four and a half months +in Mexico, the embassy embarked in one of the best Spanish +vessels and, escorted by the fleet commanded by General Antonio +de Oquendo, reached Havana a fortnight later, and finally +landed in Spain on the 5th of October, 1614.</p> + +<p>The embassy was received with honors in Madrid, where the +baptism of the ambassador was celebrated. He was given the +name of the king, who probably acted as his sponsor, and that of +Francis, the founder of Friar Sotelo’s order.</p> + +<p>Friar Cavo states that “this embassy did not succeed in +establishing commercial relations between Spain and Japan on +account of the persecution of Christians going on in the latter +country.” It is obvious, however, that no diplomatic negotiations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>could possibly have been entered into by the King of Spain +with ambassadors who were sent by one of the feudal lords and +not by the emperor of the country whence they came.</p> + +<p>After a very short stay in Madrid, during which, however, the +King of Spain appointed Friar Sotelo his court preacher, the embassy +went to Rome, where the friars and Hasekura Phillip +Francis were received in audience by the Pope on the 3rd of November, +1615. It is recorded that after being presented to his +Holiness they read him, probably with a view of obtaining his +support, Latin translations of Masumane’s letters, in which the +prince cordially invited Franciscan friars to his domain, promised +to protect all converts to the Catholic faith, expressed his +desire to hold friendship with his Catholic Majesty, the King of +Spain, and to enter into direct commercial relations with Mexico.</p> + +<p>The Franciscan friar, Gregorio Petrocha, then made an address, +and a Monsignor answered for the Pope, expressing his +joy at the embassy, his benevolent acceptance of the homage and +reverence paid to the Apostolic See by the “King,” Masumane, +who, he hoped, would soon follow his pious inclination and be +baptized. The embassy was dismissed with presents and a letter +for Masumane.</p> + +<p>Beristian states that a painting from life of Friar Sotelo and +Hasekura is preserved in the Quirinal Palace, in the ante-chamber +of the chapel.</p> + +<p>Señor Lera’s publication contains the only statement I have +been able to find concerning the date of the return of Masumane’s +embassy to Japan. He says that after an absence of six years it +reached Nagasaki in 1620. This prolonged absence seems to indicate +that it would have been dangerous for them to have returned +sooner on account of the emperor’s persecution of the Christians, +and the proscription of their religion. It is not impossible that +some of these converted Japanese remained permanently in +Mexico.</p> + +<p>Three years after the return of the embassy Iyeyasu died +under tragic circumstances, and was succeeded by his grandson, +Iyemitsu, who, in 1624, issued an edict ordering away all foreigners +and interdicting Christianity.</p> + +<p>In the following year Friar Sotelo, with several companions, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>was burned alive at Bomura, thus realizing, as is quaintly said, +“the desire with which he had come to Japan, to win a martyr’s +crown.”</p> + +<p>In 1636 all commercial relations with New Spain ceased, and +in 1638 the Portuguese were expelled from Japan, and all ports +were closed to foreign traffic. The Dutch alone were tolerated as +traders and settlers, but the latter were virtually imprisoned on +the peninsula of Dashima, where they had a factory.</p> + +<p>Iyemitsu completed the system inaugurated by his predecessor, +and put an end to Japanese trade and intercourse with foreign +countries by issuing an edict forbidding his subjects to leave +their country, under pain of capital punishment. He also ordered +the destruction of all vessels of European pattern belonging +to Japan. From that time to 1854, when Commander Perry +made a treaty with the shogunate at Uraga, Japan “maintained +a most rigid policy of isolation.”</p> + +<p>The foregoing history of the events which followed Iyeyasu’s +attempt to establish commercial relations with New Spain, based +on original documents only and here presented for the first time, +explains some of the reasons why, later on, the same emperor +decided that intercourse with European nations positively endangered +the integrity and future of Japan.</p> + +<p>All had been simple at first when the Portuguese, regularly +meeting Japanese merchants at the Island of Hirado, traded by +barter and exported from Japan on an average of over three +million dollars a year in gold. The three Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, +St. Francis Xavier, Torres, and Fernandez, who landed +in the Province of Satsuma in 1549, met with unexpected success +in introducing the Catholic religion. The arrival of certain +Spanish Franciscan friars, sent on a mission to Miaco by the +governor of Manila, divided the Christian foreigners and converts +in Japan into two rival parties, one consisting of the Portuguese +Jesuits backed by the merchants of their own country, +the other of the Spanish Franciscans supported by the Manila +merchants, who bitterly resented the Portuguese monopoly of +Japanese trade. The arrival of the Spanish Dominicans caused +still further complications; the dissensions among the members +and followers of the three orders giving direct provocation to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>persecution of Christians by the Japanese government. In order +to establish peace, Pope Gregory XIII in 1585 issued a Bull forbidding +all religious orders but that of the Jesuits to exercise +priestly offices in Japan.</p> + +<p>Vivero, the first Spanish official who landed in Japan, made +efforts to poison the emperor’s mind against the Portuguese, +with a view of securing the monopoly of gold exportation for the +Spaniards. Vivero and the viceroy of Mexico also ignored Iyeyasu’s +request for the expert Mexican miners, whom he had +wished to employ to teach the Japanese the best methods of working +their own gold mines.</p> + +<p>Viscaino, the first Spanish ambassador, maligned the Dutch, +with whom a commercial treaty had just been made, and went +so far as to threaten that if the Japanese intended to tolerate the +Dutch, the Spanish king would not allow his subjects to have +dealings with Japan. On the other hand, the protestant Dutch +republicans, and their influential English friend, William Adams, +denounced the religion of the Portuguese and Spaniards, and described +the latter’s thirst for gold and success in conquering +many remote countries which yielded the precious metal.</p> + +<p>The revelation that Viscaino’s secret mission was precisely +to discover an unknown source of gold, presumably belonging to +his dominion, was received by Iyeyasu simultaneously with the +reproach of having unsuspectingly granted permission to survey +the Japanese coast, which would unquestionably facilitate +any future invasion of Japan, whether actually intended or not +by the Spaniards. It seems possible that the existence of Viscaino’s +charts may have suggested to the emperor and his counsellors +the idea of closing all Japanese ports to foreign nations.</p> + +<p>The discoveries that certain converts made by Japanese missionaries +had pledged their allegiance to a foreign power; that +in the emperor’s own household Christians had been guilty of +treachery and duplicity, and the memory that missionaries, in +open defiance of the emperor’s orders, not only had preached in +the streets of Miaco, but had even erected a church, explain, moreover, +why the ruling class in Japan took alarm, and concluded +that the Christian religion “struck at the root of the political +and religious systems of Japan,” and that “Christians formed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>a dangerous and anti-national class, whose extirpation was essential +to the political system initiated by Iyeyasu and perfected by +Iyemitsu.”</p> + +<p>While it has seemed to me that the foregoing data concerning +the earliest relations between Japan and Mexico were interesting +from a historical point of view, I have also realized that they +could but be of particular value to ethnologists and those who +are especially interested in evidences of Asiatic influences in +Mexico and Central America. To them I venture to recommend +the consideration of the following facts:⁠—</p> + +<p>More or less frequent indirect intercourse between Japan and +Mexico undoubtedly took place as soon as communication was +established between the Philippine Islands and Acapulco.</p> + +<p>In 1608 there were fifteen thousand Japanese residing in the +Philippines, some of whom were probably employed in the crews +of the galleons, eight of which came to Acapulco each year. In +1610, with the ex-governor of the Philippines, Vivero, twenty-three +Japanese noblemen and merchants spent five months in +Mexico and its capital.</p> + +<p>In 1613, one hundred and eighty Japanese spent four and a +half months in Mexico. The majority remained when the embassy +departed for Europe, seventy-eight returning to Acapulco. +The presumption is that they remained there awaiting the return +of the ambassadors, which was delayed for six years.</p> + +<p>Iyemitsu’s prohibition to Japanese to leave their country, +under penalty of death, indicates that a large number of persecuted +Christians had been going into voluntary exile. In all +probability some of these, and also members of the Japanese +colony in the Philippines, came to Mexico and settled there. +What is more, for over two hundred years Mexico was the highroad +over which passed the merchandise brought from Spain’s +Asiatic possessions, and landed at Acapulco by vessels whose +crews frequently were partly Asiatic.</p> + +<p>It is obvious, therefore, that it is the first duty of ethnologists +to assign to the above influx of Japanese into Mexico in historical +times any indications of Asiatic influence that they may detect, +and for anthropologists to consider the more or less limited mingling +of races which doubtless occurred in the 17th century and +afterwards.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p> + +<p>I will set an example by attributing to the Japanese who +visited Mexico in the 17th century the introduction of the raincoat +made of grass or palm leaves, which is worn by the Indians +inhabiting the Pacific coast of Mexico, and which is said to be +identical with that used in Japan from time immemorial.</p> + +<p>In this connection it suffices to point out the significant fact +that the members of Masumane’s suite returned to Acapulco +from the City of Mexico in June, precisely at the beginning of +the rainy season. It being absolutely necessary for them to have +some protection from the torrential showers they were exposed +to during their long journey, it seems more than probable that +they deftly manufactured from native grasses or palm leaves +such rain-coats as they had been accustomed to make and wear +in their native land.</p> + +<p>The practical lesson thus taught the observant natives and +the models furnished by the rain-coats discarded at the end of +the wet season would surely sufficiently account for the introduction +and use to the present day of these useful and easily manufactured +garments, of which a specimen, bought in the marketplace +at Oaxaca, has been sent by the writer to the Museum of the +Department of Anthropology of the University of California.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="sansserif allsmcap"><b>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS<br> +<br> +DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY</b></span> +</p> + +<p class="p2">The publications issued from the Department of Anthropology of the +University of California are sent in exchange for the publications of +anthropological societies and museums, for journals devoted to general +anthropology or to archaeology and ethnology, and for specimens +contributed to the museum collections of the Department. They are +also for sale at the prices stated, which include postage or express +charges. They consist of three series of octavo volumes, a series of +quarto memoirs, and occasional special volumes.</p> + + +<p class="unindent allsmcap"><b>AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY.</b></p> + +<table class="small"> +<colgroup> + <col span="1" style="width: 3em;"> + <col span="1" style="width: auto;"> + <col span="1" style="width: 7em;"> +</colgroup> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 1.</td> + <td class="tdh">No. 1. Life and Culture of the Hupa, by Pliny Earle Goddard. Pages 88, Plates 30, September, 1903</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price, 1.25</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 2. Hupa Texts, by Pliny Earle Goddard. Pages 290, March, 1904.</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price, 3.00</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 2.</td> +<td class="tdh">No. 1. The Exploration of the Potter Creek Cave, by William J. Sinclair. Pages 27, Plates 14, April, 1904</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price,  .40</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 2. The Languages of the Coast of California South of San Francisco, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 72, June, 1904.</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price,  .60</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 3. Types of Indian Culture in California, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 22, June, 1904.</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price,  .25</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 4. Basket Designs of the Indians of Northwestern California, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 60, Plates 7, January, 1905.</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price,  .75</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 5. The Yokuts Language of South Central California, by A. L. Kroeber (in press).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 3.</td> +<td class="tdh">The Morphology of the Hupa Language, by Pliny Earle Goddard. Pages 344, June, 1905.</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price, 3.50</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 4.</td> +<td class="tdh">No. 1. The Earliest Historical Relations between Mexico and Japan, by Zelia Nuttall. Pages 47, April, 1906.</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price,  .50</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 2. Contributions to the Physical Anthropology of California by A. Hrdlicka (in press).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 3. Shoshonean Dialects of California, by A. L. Kroeber (in press).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 4. Indian Myths from South Central California, by A. L. Kroeber (in press).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 5. The Geography of the Pomo Indians, by S. A. Barrett (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 5.</td> +<td class="tdh">No. 1. The Phonology of the Hupa Language: Part 1, The Individual Sounds, by Pliny Earle Goddard (in press).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdh">No. 2. Navaho Myths, Prayers and Songs with Texts and Translations, by Washington Matthews, edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (in press).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<table class="small"> +<colgroup> + <col span="1" style="width: 4em;"> + <col span="1" style="width: auto;"> + <col span="1" style="width: 7em;"> +</colgroup> + +<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>GRAECO-ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY.</b></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 1.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 1. Edited by Bernard P. Grenfell, Arthur S. Hunt, and J. Gilbart Smyly. Pages 690, Plates 9, 1903</td> +<td class="tdr vlb">Price, $16.00</td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 2.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 2 (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 3.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 3 (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGY.</b></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 1.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Hearst Medical Papyrus. Edited by G. A. Reisner. Hieratic text in 17 facsimile plates in collotype, with introduction and +vocabulary. Quarto, pages 48. Now ready.</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 2.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Predynastic Cemetery at Naga-ed-Der. The Archaeological Material, by A. M. Lythgoe (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 3.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Predynastic Cemetery at Naga-ed-Der. The Anatomical Material, by Elliott Smith (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 4.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Early Dynastic Cemeteries at Naga-ed-Der. By G. A. Reisner (in press).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 5.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Cemetery of the Second and Third Dynasties at Naga-ed-Der, by A. C. Mace (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 6.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Cemetery of the Third and Fourth Dynasties at Naga-ed-Der, by G. A. Reisner (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 7.</td> + <td class="tdh">The Coptic Cemeteries of Naga-ed-Der, by A. C. Mace (in preparation).</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>ANTHROPOLOGICAL MEMOIRS.</b></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. I.</td> + <td class="tdh">Explorations in Peru, by Max Uhle (in preparation).<br> + No. 1. The Ruins of Moche.<br> + No. 2. Huamachuco, Chincha, Ica.<br> + No. 3. The Inca Buildings of the Valley of Pisco.</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> + + +<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>SPECIAL VOLUMES.</b></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh" colspan="2">The Book of the Life of the Ancient Mexicans, containing an account of their +rites and superstitions; an anonymous Hispano-American manuscript +preserved in the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Florence, Italy. Reproduced +in fac-simile, with introduction, translation, and commentary, +by Zelia Nuttall.</td> +<td></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdh">Part I. Preface, Introduction, and 80 Fac-simile plates in +colors. 1903.</td> +<td></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdh">Part II. Translation and Commentary. (In press).</td> +<td></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdh"> Price for the two parts</td> + <td class="tdr">$25.00</td> +</tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh" colspan="2">The Department of Anthropology, Its History and Plan, 1905.</td> +<td></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="small"> +<p class="hangwide"><b>ASTRONOMY.</b>—W. W. Campbell, Editor. <b>Publications of the Lick Observatory.</b>—Volumes I–V completed. Volume +VI (in progress).</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>BOTANY.</b>—W. A. Setchell, Editor. Price per volume $3.50. Volume I (pp. 418) +completed. Volume II (in progress).</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>EDUCATION.</b>—Elmer E. Brown, Editor. Price per volume $2.50.</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>GEOLOGY.</b>—Bulletin of the Department of Geology. Andrew C. Lawson, Editor. +Price per volume $3.50. Volumes I (pp. 428), II (pp. 450) and +III (475), completed. Volume IV (in progress).</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>PATHOLOGY.</b>—Alonzo Englebert Taylor, Editor. Price per volume $2.00. +Volume I (in progress).</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY.</b>—Edward B. Clapp, William A. Merrill, Herbert C. +Nutting, Editors. Price per volume $2.00. Volume I (in +progress).</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>PHILOSOPHY.</b>—Volume I, completed. Price, $2.00</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>PHYSIOLOGY.</b>—Jacques Loeb, Editor. Price per volume $2.00. Volume I +(pp. 217) completed. Volume II (pp. 215) completed. +Volume III (in progress).</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>ZOOLOGY.</b>—W. E. Ritter, Editor. Price per volume $3.50. Volume I +completed. Volume II completed. Volume III (in progress).</p> + +<p class="hangwide"><b>UNIVERSITY CHRONICLE.</b>—An official record of University life, issued quarterly, +edited by a committee of the faculty. Price, $1.00 per year. Current +volume No. VIII.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Address all orders, or requests for information concerning the above publications +(except Astronomy) to <b>The University Press, Berkeley, California</b>.</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter transnote"> +<h3>Transcriber’s Note:</h3> + +<p>The list of University Publications was consolidated at the end of +the book. Footnotes were renumbered sequentially. Obvious printing +errors, such as partially printed letters and punctuation, were +corrected. Words may have inconsistent hyphenation in the text. Three +misspelled words were corrected.</p> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/77632-h/images/cover.jpg b/77632-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..286cafb --- /dev/null +++ b/77632-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4365e6b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #77632 +(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77632) diff --git a/earliest_v2.txt b/earliest_v2.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81f1db6 --- /dev/null +++ b/earliest_v2.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2068 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 *** + + + + + =UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS + AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY= + + Vol. 4 No. 1 + + + THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS + BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN + + FROM ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS PRESERVED IN SPAIN + AND JAPAN + + BY + ZELIA NUTTALL + + BERKELEY + THE UNIVERSITY PRESS + APRIL, 1906 + + + + + =UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS + + AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY= + + =VOL. 4= =NO. 1= + + + + + THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS + BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN + + (FROM ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS PRESERVED IN SPAIN AND JAPAN.) + + BY + ZELIA NUTTALL. + + PUBLISHED BY THE CROOKER FUND FOR RESEARCH IN MEXICO. + + +It is strange but true, that whereas for many years past much has +been said and written about the hypothetical transmission of Asiatic +influences to Mexico and Central America by means of the ship-wrecked +crews of Japanese junks, the precise date when official relations +were first established between Japan and Mexico has only just been +ascertained. + +It is Señor C. A. Lera, the actual Mexican Envoy Extraordinary and +Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan and China, who deserves the credit +of having instituted researches in archives and annals of Japan +and succeeded in finding therein the documentary evidence which a +countryman of his, Angel Nuñez Ortega, had vainly endeavored to find +in the national archives of Mexico. + +With the coöperation of Father Steichen, a learned missionary +residing in Japan, who is known as the author of a History of +Japanese Commerce, Señor Lera obtained translations of important +original documents, and incorporated them in a report to the Mexican +Minister of Foreign Affairs, which was privately printed in Tokio in +pamphlet form a few months ago, under the title of “First Official +Relations Between Japan and Spain With Respect to Mexico.” + +On reading Señor Lera’s valuable contribution I found evidences that +he was unacquainted with the scholarly monograph privately published +in Mexico in 1879, by the distinguished scholar and diplomat, Señor +Ortega, under the title “Historical Note on the Political and +Commercial Relations Between Mexico and Japan in the XVIIth Century.” +I found moreover that although Señor Lera refers to it, neither of +the above writers had ever read that most valuable document, the +detailed report of his embassy submitted to Viceroy Mendoza, by the +first ambassador ever sent from New Spain to Japan. This is contained +in Vol. VIII of that monumental work published in Madrid: Collection +of unedited documents relating to the discovery and conquest and +organization of ancient Spanish possessions in America and Oceania. + +Finding myself deeply interested in the facts preserved in the above +disconnected monographs, it occurred to me that I could not send +to the San Francisco meeting of the Anthropological Association +a more acceptable communication than a compilation of all three +publications, with translations of the original documents contained +therein. In preparing this I found it necessary, in order to fill +certain gaps, to refer to a number of works on Japan, and also to +incorporate certain data contained in a newspaper article recently +published in the City of Mexico by the erudite Father V. de P. +Andrade. I venture to believe that the data collectively presented +here, for the first time in English, will be of interest and value, +not only to historians and ethnologists, but also to the general +public. + +To them it will doubtless be a matter of surprise, as it was to me, +to learn that it was no less a personage than Tokugawa Iyeyasu, +surnamed “The Illustrious,” who, in 1598, took the first steps +towards establishing official relations with Mexico. Iyeyasu is known +to have inaugurated the policy of exclusion and isolation, which was +perfected by his grandson, Iyemitsu, and to have organized the form +of government which secured to Japan a peace of two hundred years. + +At the time, however, when he conceived the desire to enter into +direct communication with New Spain, he was at the beginning of +his remarkable career. Only two years had passed since Taikun +Hideyoshi had bestowed upon him, as a reward for his services as a +general, the eight provinces, which were designated “The Kwanto,” and +ordered him to take up his residence at the then unimportant town +of Yedo, the present Tokio. Considering that since 1542, when the +first Portuguese trading vessels visited Japan, the Portuguese had +been enjoying the monopoly of a system of trade by barter, it was +certainly a new departure for General Iyeyasu to attempt to establish +direct communication between his new domain and Mexico. It was his +idea that this result might be obtained if he could but induce the +merchant vessels which plied between the Philippines and Mexico +to touch at one of the ports of “The Kwanto.” With this object in +view, he sought the advice and aid of the learned Franciscan friar, +Geronimo de Jesús, who wrote for him a Spanish letter to the governor +of the Philippines, in which, as an opening to future negotiations, +Iyeyasu courteously invited the Spanish merchant vessels to seek +shelter in any of the ports situated in his domain, if ever overtaken +by the dangerous storms so prevalent in these regions. This letter, +which was written in the same year in which the second expedition to +Corea came to an end and a number of Coreans were brought from that +country to Japan, was not sent when written, for the negotiations +were suspended by the stirring events which culminated in the famous +battle of Sekigakara, which, in 1600, established Iyeyasu’s supremacy +in Japan. It was not until 1601 that Iyeyasu found leisure to revert +to his plan, and sent Shinkiro, a wealthy merchant of the City of +Sakai, as bearer of the above letter and some costly presents to the +governor of the Philippines. The latter, deeply involved at that time +in the war which Spain was carrying on in Cambodia against Siam, +responded by saying that Iyeyasu’s proposal pleased him extremely, +and that he would accept it as soon as he was free and able to do so. +Meanwhile he begged him to accept certain gifts in return for those +which he had received with much gratitude through the Japanese envoy +Shinkiro. + +In the month of May of the following year, a new governor, Don Pedro +Bravo de Acuña, was appointed for the Philippines. In September of +the same year Iyeyasu dispatched Shinkiro again with another letter, +also written in Spanish by the Franciscan friar, Geronimo. The +original draft of this interesting document, which is preserved in +Japan, is in Japanese, from which language it was translated into +French for Señor Lera, so that he, in turn, could translate it into +Spanish, from which language I have made the following literal +translation. + +I venture to suggest that it would be an interesting experiment for +some scholar to translate my version back into Japanese, and to +compare his translation with the original document and verify the +changes which must have been produced by its passing through the +crucible of three European languages. + + “Minamoto Iyeyasu of Japan, to his Lordship the Governor of + Luzon:-- + + “After a long voyage your envoy has arrived at last with your + letter. He has spoken to me of the mode of government and the + flourishing condition of your country, and, at the same time, + delivered to me the five objects which you have deigned to + send me as presents. + + “Although I have never had the honor to see or listen to you, + your amiable behavior makes me realize how all men are members + of a single family; which reflection has moved me deeply. + + “Nothing would satisfy my desires so much as to see merchant + vessels establishing frequent communication between my country + and New Spain. In formulating this wish, it was not only the + interests of Japan which moved me, but also, in equal measure, + your own advantage. Many of your people have assured me that + it would be a considerable advantage to them to be able to + count upon a port in the Kwanto as a shelter for their ships + during tempests. They have also manifested to me the pleasure + with which they would see Japanese vessels making voyages + between the Kwanto and New Spain. + + “I shall await your answer with eager anticipation. + + “If you render me this service, I, in turn, will severely + prohibit piracy even in the most remote islands of Japan, and, + if you so desire, I will condemn all pirates to death. You, in + turn, can execute all Japanese who in the Philippines violate + your laws. If any of the merchants who with my authorization + visit your country, prove to be rebellious to your authority, + I will, upon being informed of their names, prohibit their + embarking again. + + “Although unworthy of you, deign to accept as a sign of + friendship the Japanese suit of armor, which I send you. + + “My ambassador will tell you all that I have failed to express + in this letter.” + +It is related that Iyeyasu’s assurances did not disarm the +suspicions of the Spaniards, nor convince them that he would or +could keep his promise. Indeed the Spaniards’ fear to send their +galleons to Japan was not unfounded, for, but eight years previously +in 1596, Hideyoshi, since surnamed the “Napoleon of Japan,” had +confiscated without provocation the Spanish vessel named “San +Felipe,” and a month before the date of Iyeyasu’s above letter +another galleon, the “Espirito Santo,” almost incurred the same +fate. It was sailing with contrary winds from Manila to New Spain, +and touched the coast of Tosa in August, 1602. It was immediately +attacked by the natives of this province, and its captain, Lope +de Ulloa, had to resort to arms in order to defend it against its +assailants. As soon as the news of this singularly inopportune +episode reached Iyeyasu, in October, he hastened to write to the +governor of the Philippines, protesting that what had occurred had +been without his knowledge and consent. He laid stress upon the +amicable relations then existing between both countries--adding that +they might almost be regarded as an alliance. Refusing to admit that +his subjects were in fault, he adroitly suggests that it was probably +only the fear of a repetition of the “San Felipe” episode, which had +caused the Spaniards to take alarm and precipitate their departure +from the Japanese coast. He adds: “Henceforth, in case of any kind of +accidents, let your people not hesitate to take refuge in the ports +of my domain, for I have sent to all quarters severe orders relating +to this matter. Through your merchants I have learned that the eight +galleons which leave Luzon every year for New Spain desire to obtain +a license permitting them to take refuge in the ports of my country. +Full of compassion for these foreigners I have had eight licenses +written and sealed. These will preserve them from the rapacity of the +people, and thanks to them they will without fear be able not only to +take refuge in the ports and islands, but also to land and penetrate +into all villages and towns throughout Japan, without incurring the +risk of being treated as spies, even should they devote themselves to +studying the usages and customs of the land.” + +While nothing could exceed the courtesy and good will expressed in +this letter, it utterly failed to reassure the governor of the +Philippines, who could but bear in mind several recent disastrous +losses of Spanish galleons, laden with the much coveted riches from +the Spanish possessions in Asia. But fifteen years had elapsed since +Francis Drake had lain in wait at Cape St. Lucas for the galleon +expected from the Philippines, and after robbing it of its treasures, +abandoned its crew on the arid shores of the Peninsula of California. +This disaster had produced a profound commotion throughout the +Spanish colonies, and brought infinite trouble upon the viceroy +of Mexico, who was obliged to send out a maritime expedition with +orders to pursue and punish the English corsairs. The seizure of +another galleon by a Japanese potentate had taken place but six years +previously, and now, at the very time that Iyeyasu was offering +hospitality to Spanish merchantmen, came the news of the real or +imaginary danger incurred by the vessel which had taken refuge in a +Japanese port. Considering that besides all this the memory of the +persecution and martyrdom of Roman Catholic missionaries in 1597 was +still fresh, it is not surprising that the Spanish governor took no +notice of Iyeyasu’s overtures, and broke off negotiations. + +In the native history of Japanese Commerce (Nihon Shogyoshi) and +Kottenhamp’s “History of the Colonization of America,” this rupture +and the subsequent failures to establish the desired commercial +relations are attributed, no doubt justly, chiefly to the powerful +merchant princes of Seville, who violently opposed any encroachment +on their monopoly of Asiatic trade. Six years later, however, in +1608, the situation suddenly changed. A new governor, Don Rodrigo de +Vivero, came to the Philippines, where, at that period, there existed +a colony of about fifteen thousand Japanese. The principal Japanese +merchants residing in Manila petitioned him to resume the interrupted +negotiations, and an ambassador sent by Iyeyasu insisted, at the same +time, upon the advantages that would accrue to Spanish interests by a +friendly treaty with Japan. + +Iyeyasu’s ambassador, in this case, was the Englishman William Adams, +a native of Gillingham, Kent, who shares, with his companion Timothy +Shotten, the distinction of being the first Englishmen who went to +Japan. Both served as pilots on a Dutch ship, the “De Liefde,” +which had sailed from Texel at the mouth of the Zuyder Zee in 1598 +with four other vessels and was wrecked at Bunzo, in Japan, on April +19, 1600. Adams ingratiated himself with the Japanese, volunteered +to instruct them in the art of ship-building, and won the Emperor’s +notice by offering to teach him geography and geometry. Received at +court, he rapidly rose in favor. The title “Hatamoto,” or Noble, was +conferred upon him, and he became not only Iyeyasu’s influential +adviser, but was employed, as in this case, as the emperor’s envoy in +establishing commercial relations with foreign countries. + +Won over by William Adams’ representations, backed by the petition +presented by the Japanese residents of Manila, Governor Vivero agreed +to renew negotiations at once, and commissioned the leaders of the +Japanese colony to write two letters for him in their language. These +and some gifts were entrusted to William Adams, who was likewise +placed in command of the next Spanish vessel which was sent to +Japan. In the first letter, addressed to Iyeyasu, the interruption +of negotiations and its cause were wisely ignored, and great stress +was laid upon “the amiable sympathy which from olden times had bound +one nation to the other,” and assurances were given that “far from +wishing to abandon it or allowing it to become lukewarm, it would be +his aim diligently to tighten the bonds of their long friendship.” He +states, immediately afterwards, that a number of turbulent characters +having promoted sedition and made disturbance in the Japanese colony +at Manila, he had adopted the course of sending them back to Japan. +According to Father Steichen not less than two hundred Japanese +were thus expelled from Manila. Governor Vivero adds that their +troublesome behavior would certainly not prevent him from receiving +any peaceful Japanese merchants who might come to the Philippines. +With respect to such nothing had changed. He continues: That he was +sending a vessel to Japan, and had given orders to William Adams +to take shelter by preference in a port in the “Kwanto.” In case, +however, that contrary winds should impede the vessel’s course, +he had no objection to any other port being entered, now that the +whole of Japan was under Iyeyasu’s Lordship. He did not doubt that +his captain and his people would meet with a good reception, and +he begged, at the same time, that the Catholic friars residing in +Japan should be well treated. In the second letter, addressed to +the shogun, Hidetada, Iyeyasu’s son, in whose favor the latter had +resigned in 1605, Vivero announced the sending of a galleon, and +states that he would be obliged if the shogun would send Japanese +vessels, but not more than four a year, to the Philippines, and he +requests that he view with benevolence the friars and priests who +were living in Japan. + +By the time that these letters reached their destination, eight +years had elapsed since Iyeyasu had made his first attempt to open +negotiations. Vivero, the enterprising and enlightened governor of +the Philippines, henceforth became his ally, and, as we shall see, +conducted the first Japanese embassy to Mexico. + +The credit of having established amicable relations should be given +to William Adams, whose influence over Iyeyasu finally opened to the +Spaniards the Port of Uraga, the most commodious and flourishing port +of Japan, situated in the Province of Sagami, a day’s journey from +Yedo. An imperial decree, dated 1608, was posted at the entrance of +this port, threatening severe penalties to all who might molest the +merchantmen from Luzon. + +The answers to Governor Vivero’s letters, which were soon sent, +express Iyeyasu’s and his son’s pleasure at the realization of their +desire. + +With regard to the Japanese who had been forcibly expelled from +Manila, Iyeyasu simply remarks:-- + + “In your country the government and the people live in + harmony, the inhabitants treat each other with good will and + courtesy, and extend even to foreigners the same general + benevolence. In Japan we also have just laws, and all are + governed with equity. Consequently we have no thieves nor + malefactors. Therefore, if the Japanese who are in the + Philippines commit injustices, pray condemn them to death.” + +In a letter dated October 2, 1608, Hidetada reiterates his father’s +assurances that Spanish vessels might visit Japan without fear, +and expressed the desire that future communications should be more +frequent between both countries. + +Perfect harmony having thus been established, friendship increased +between the Japanese and Spaniards, and the galleon which navigated +between Manila and Acapulco regularly touched at Uraga. + +In the following year a change of governor took place in the +Philippines, and Don Juan de Silva, the new governor, hastened to +announce to Iyeyasu his arrival in Luzon, and his intention to +continue to send vessels to Japan. He seized this opportunity, +however, to inform the emperor that a number of Japanese residents in +the Philippines were fomenting revolt and disturbing the peace. In +answer to the latter complaint, Iyeyasu sent the governor a copy of +the severe laws applied to criminals in Japan, directing him to apply +these laws in punishing the seditious Japanese in the Philippines. He +ends with the assurance that the friars in Japan were being treated +with sympathy and good will. Considering that, in 1597, twenty-six +Christians and foreign friars, among them a native of Mexico, San +Felipe de Jesús, were crucified at Nagasaki, the imperial assurances +that he viewed the friars with benevolence and good will must have +been extremely welcome to Governor Vivero. + +Three months subsequently, Hidedata, who vied with his father in +liberality and affability, renewed the privilege granted to Spanish +vessels to enter all Japanese ports indiscriminately, and sent their +captains copies of an official permission, dated November 2, 1609, +which reads as follows:-- + + “The vessels sailing from Luzon to New Spain may freely enter + all ports in Japan and take shelter therein in stormy weather.” + +In this same year a strange combination of circumstances occurred, +which afforded the Japanese rulers an unexpected opportunity not +only of demonstrating their good will towards the Spaniards, but +of giving a proof of their good faith and generosity. Don Rodrigo +de Vivero, the retiring governor of the Philippines, sailed from +Luzon for New Spain on the 25th of July, in a vessel named the “San +Francisco,” escorted by two galleons. Overtaken by a storm, the “San +Francisco” and one of the galleons were wrecked on the shores of +Japan. As soon as the Japanese learned that the ship-wrecked crews +were Spaniards, and that among them was the former friendly governor +of the Philippines, they hastened to offer them shelter and food. +Vivero dispatched two messengers to the Japanese court to inform the +emperor and the shogun of his misfortunes. Whereupon they not only +invited him and his companions to the capital, but with spontaneous +liberality promised a restitution of all the merchandise, etc., which +could be saved from both wrecks. Iyeyasu generously offered to part +with one of the best vessels, which had been constructed for him +by William Adams, and likewise to lend him four thousand ducats, +with which to man and provision the ship, which was named “San +Buenaventura.” Vivero was also loaded with presents for the King of +Spain and Viceroy of Mexico, and was requested to exert his influence +towards the sending of a Spanish ambassador to Japan. + +It appears that Vivero took advantage of his sojourn in Japan to +prejudice the Japanese rulers against the Portuguese, who had +hitherto enjoyed the sole privilege of exporting gold from Japan. +He likewise attempted to have this privilege transferred to the +Spaniards. + +An interesting fact connected with this visit, and to which I will +revert, is that Iyeyasu requested that as many as fifty expert miners +be sent to Japan from Mexico in order to teach the Japanese the most +advantageous methods of working their gold mines, the principal one +of which was situated in the Island of Sado. + +Governor Vivero, having consented to take with him to New Spain a +certain number of Japanese merchants, so that they might learn the +way, and also study commercial conditions, stipulated that the price +of the vessel ceded to him might be payable in Spanish merchandise. + +On the first of August, 1610, after having enjoyed Japanese +hospitality for over a year, Vivero and his countrymen embarked for +New Spain with twenty-three Japanese merchants, who were under the +leadership of two noblemen named Tanaka Shosake and Shuya Ryusai. + +In Mexico City, where they arrived towards the end of the year, the +Japanese were presented by Vivero to the viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco +the Second, who received them well and stood sponsor at the baptism +of at least one of the two Japanese noblemen, who returned to Japan +bearing the Christian name Francisco and the viceroy’s family name, +Velasco. + +The singularly noble conduct of the Japanese towards the ship-wrecked +sailors at a time when all nations accepted the principle of “_jus +littoris_” could but make a particularly deep impression upon the +viceroy, who in the year 1600, for instance, had granted a concession +to the inhabitants of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, which legally +authorized them to appropriate all ship-wrecked goods. Moved by +gratitude, or as Father Caro prefers to state, by his ardent desire +for the aggrandizement of New Spain, the viceroy determined to +exert a prerogative usually confined to sovereigns, and to send an +ambassador to Japan, entrusted with a letter in which he expressed +to the Japanese rulers his gratitude and appreciation of the great +charity and liberality towards his ship-wrecked countrymen. + +Mexican historians have differed as to the name of the ambassador +appointed, but an original document preserved in the archives of +the Indies proves, beyond a doubt, that it was General Sebastian +Viscaino, who in this document is twice mentioned as being a son of +the viceroy.[1] + + FOOTNOTE: + + [1] It has already been mentioned that the contents of this + valuable document have not been discussed by Señor Ortega, + Father Andrade or Señor Lera, who erroneously states in a + footnote on page 23 of his monograph that the texts of the + two letters from the Japanese sovereigns are contained in + Vol. VIII of the collection of unedited documents; whereas + this contains only the texts of Spanish letters addressed + by General Viscaino to the emperor and shogun. + +The memory of Don Sebastian Viscaino is intimately associated with +California, for, in 1596, he was commissioned by the King of Spain +to make a voyage of discovery to California, and, as is well known, +sailed from the Port of Acapulco with three vessels and reached the +Port of La Paz, where he established himself, built a church and +dispatched a series of expeditions westward. This expedition ended +somewhat disastrously on account of the discontent of the soldiers +under his command, but in 1602 he was appointed Captain General of an +expedition sent by order of Phillip III and fitted out by the Count +of Monterey, viceroy of Mexico. During this voyage, which lasted +nine months, the whole coast of Southern California was carefully +surveyed. After reaching Cape Mendocino, they proceeded as far north +as 45 degrees north latitude, but he was forced to return to Acapulco +on account of illness and mortality amongst his men. + +The account of his embassy to Japan, evidently written under his +dictation by the secretary of the expedition, is divided into twelve +chapters, and fills ninety-seven printed pages in the collection of +unedited documents to which I have already referred. This document, +which is full of interesting and valuable information concerning +the avowed and secret aims of his mission, gives a detailed account +of its history. It enables one clearly to recognize moreover the +manifold causes and events which within a few years wrought so +complete a change in Iyeyasu’s views, and which culminated in the +banishment of foreigners, the extirpation of Christianity, and the +complete isolation of Japan for centuries. + +On the 22nd of March, 1611, Viscaino sailed in a vessel named the +“San Francisco” from Vera Cruz, accompanied by the Japanese nobleman +now known as Don Francisco de Velasco, twenty-two Japanese merchants, +a commissary and six friars of the Franciscan order, a captain named +Palacios and a crew of fifty-two. + +Before launching into Viscaino’s report, of which I shall give a +literal translation, excepting where abbreviations and commentaries +are necessary, let us read the Japanese records of the foregoing +events, which were indirectly communicated by the well-known scholar, +Mr. Ernest Satow, to Señor Nuñez Ortega, in 1879. They demonstrate +that in the 17th century, as now, the official records of Japan were +written with a brevity and reticence which causes so many modern +Japanese war dispatches to read more like our weather reports:-- + + “The Sairan Igen of Arai Haku Seki (B. 1657, D. 1725) says: + In the 15th year of Keycho (1600) a merchant vessel belonging + to New Spain was driven by a storm on the east coast of Japan + and considerably damaged. The government ordered that it + should be repaired, and provisions having been supplied it was + started to depart. In the summer of the 17th year (1612), an + ambassador came from that country on a complimentary mission, + to return thanks. Amongst the presents was a self-sounding + bell (clock), and our manufacture of this article commenced + from this date.”[2] + + FOOTNOTE: + [2] This clock is still preserved in the temple of Kino-San, + near Shizouka, Province of Suraga. An inscription records + its history, and a small metal plate, fastened to it, + records that it was made in Madrid. + +The same annals preserve the following report, made to their +government by the Japanese merchants on their return from New Spain:-- + + “Some of our sailing merchants departed in company with this + embassy. They (the merchants) returned in the following + year, and stated that the country visited was populous and + productive. They also reported that the foreigners had thanked + them, saying: ‘Our countries are far apart and navigation is + difficult. Pray do not come again.’” + +It is, of course, evident that this blunt intimation that their +presence was not desired in New Spain emanated from the same +monopolists who had caused the rupture of negotiations in 1602, and +who, later on, obtained a royal decree, limiting the traffic between +Mexico and Japan to one galleon a year, and putting restrictions upon +the value of the cargo it carried. + +From Viscaino’s report we learn that the relations between the +Japanese merchants and the Spanish crew of the “San Francisco” +were decidedly strained. He relates that, at the beginning of the +voyage, the Japanese gave trouble on account of their haughtiness +and rudeness to the sailors--especially “concerning matters of the +kitchen,” and by their high-handedness. The general put an end to +this state of affairs by ordering that no Spaniard was to interfere +with a Japanese, nor lay hands on him, nor give occasion for dispute, +under penalty of death. The same threat was made to the Japanese, +and they were enjoined to be civil, and to come to him whenever any +difficulty presented itself, and to avoid all disputes and quarrels +with the sailors. Viscaino likewise threatened that if any Japanese +were insolent, he would have him hanged from the yardarm, and would +report him to the Japanese emperor, of whom it was known that he +did not like his vassals to be insolent--especially when they were +being treated to such a good voyage. Whereupon, it is recorded, the +Japanese were so filled with fear that they “restrained their pride +and haughtiness, became more docile than lambs,” and gave no cause +for complaint during the remainder of the voyage. Their leader was +the first to set an example of changed behavior. Viscaino invited him +to his table, considering it expedient, as he says, to please and +satisfy him, in view of the fact that upon his report to the emperor +would depend the manner of reception accorded to the Spaniards by +his Imperial Majesty, and the dispatch with which permission would be +obtained to set out from said Empire of Japan for the discovery of +said islands of gold and silver, which constituted the principal aim +of this expedition. + +It is interesting to note that in the letters which General Viscaino +sent by messengers to the emperor and his son, on his arrival in +Japan after a voyage of eighty days, he emphasized how much respect +and honor had been accorded to the Japanese merchants during the +voyage, but refrained from all mention of the islands of gold and +silver, which it was his main object to discover. + +General Viscaino’s letter to Iyeyasu reads as follows:-- + + “Most Serene Emperor of the kingdoms and provinces of Japan:-- + + “Sebastian Viscaino, General and Ambassador of his Majesty + the King of Spain, Phillip III, and also of the Marquis of + Salinas, Viceroy of New Spain and the King’s Lieutenant, as + well as the Friar, Peter Baptist, of the Order of St. Francis, + make known unto your Majesty that, to-day, Saturday, the 10th + of June, 1611, we have reached this Port of Uraga in a vessel + in which we sailed from the Port of Acapulco, in New Spain, on + the 22nd of March of this year. We have come to this kingdom + directly for the sole purpose of bringing you the news that + said Marquis received the embassy and presents which you sent + through Friar Alonzo Munoz, and also to bring to this realm + Josquendono and your other vassals who went last year with Don + Rodrigo de Vivero to New Spain, as well as to return the money + which by your order was lent to Don Vivero and the value of + the ship ‘San Buenaventura,’ which said Marquis purchased in + the name of my lord and king. It was not considered expedient + to return here in said vessel for reasons of which Josquendono + and the other Japanese will inform you. They will tell you at + the same time how, during their voyage to and from New Spain, + they were respected and honored and given presents on account + of their being your servants and vassals. While the said + Marquis could have sent them back by the Islands of Luzon, + he did not do so, considering that voyage would be long and + dangerous, not only on account of difficult navigation but + because they, the money and the value of the ship which we are + bringing to your Majesty, in the name of my lord and king, + might have been endangered on account of the number of Dutch + pirates, whose vessels are in the vicinity of the Islands, and + who are going about robbing and in revolt against my lord and + king.” + +Viscaino closes his letter by humbly begging permission to go to +court in order to “kiss the emperor’s hands,” and by an allusion to +the existing relations of peace and good understanding which it is +his mission to promote. + +Notwithstanding these relations, the general found it necessary, +before landing his Spanish crew, to confer with the governor of the +port and the commander of the Japanese fleet of junks as to the best +method of avoiding quarrels and disputes between the Spaniards and +Japanese. He issued orders that, under penalty of death, no Spaniard +was to draw his sword or any other arm against the Japanese--nor +use violence against Japanese women, nor take anything from any one +against his will. + +A great number of Japanese visited the Spanish vessel, among them +many noblemen. These were received with honors by Viscaino, who +“offered them chairs and gave them sweets, which they soaked in +sherry, which they liked extremely.” + +He records complacently that the Japanese merchants and their leader, +Josquendono, departed at once for the court of the emperor, in order +to give him an account of their voyage, in which they expressed +the excellent treatment they had received from the Spaniards. But +since we know the nature of the official report of their voyage, +made by some of these same merchants, who must also have harbored +resentment at the threats employed by Viscaino on ship-board, we may +be prompted to doubt whether all accounts were as favorable as that +of Josquendono, who had been won over by Viscaino. An insight into an +existing undercurrent of ill will towards the Spaniards is afforded +by Viscaino’s remark, “that it was indeed well that they had come +directly to Japan, for their arrival with the Japanese merchants +contradicted the rumors which had been rife, and which had spread the +belief that the Spaniards had deceived the emperor; that the money +lent to Vivero would never be returned, and that the Japanese who +went to New Spain were enslaved and made to serve the Spaniards.” + +In a few days Viscaino received a gracious communication, signed by +several court officials, informing him that the shogun, Hidedata, had +received his letter with great pleasure, and granted him permission +and all facilities to visit him immediately at his court. In the five +junks placed at his disposal Viscaino at once embarked with an escort +of thirty Spaniards, armed with muskets and arquebusses, and with the +friars and a few of the Japanese whom he had brought from New Spain. + +At the mouth of the river Yedo he was met by the commander of +the junks, who made great demonstrations of joy and offered him +a Japanese collation. The Spaniards responded by a salutation of +musketry and arquebusses and by the beating of the drum. On the main +mast of the ambassador’s junk they flew the royal standard, and at +the stern floated another royal standard, made of Castilian silk, +along with an infantry flag with its streamers, all of which, it is +related, gave great pleasure to the Japanese beholders who crowded +the banks of the river that was filled with innumerable junks. + +On landing, the Spaniards were hospitably entertained at the house +of the commander, and were assigned a fine residence, whither a +nobleman, followed by a numerous suite, came with a message from the +shogun. The general went out to meet him at the door, his escort +being drawn up in line. The Japanese nobleman was most polite, bowing +to the ground, according to native usage. The ambassador followed the +Spanish mode, and made a great display of politeness--particularly +at the door, where there was much discussion as to who should enter +first. + +The nobleman expressed the shogun’s hope that the Spaniards were +resting and contented in his domain. He informed them that his +messenger had orders to provide amply for the general and his escort, +and that they would be given six meals a day, for the expenses of +which he was sending gold and silver instead of the customary rice, +which was used in barter. On the following day he sent two cooks, +many servants and an abundance of game and fish. Two kitchens were +set up in which meals were respectively prepared in Spanish and +Japanese styles. The shogun’s messenger returned to investigate +whether all was being attended to, and was invited to dine by the +ambassador, who found that his guest cared less for his meat than +for his sherry, but was unwilling or unable to respond when his host +drank his health for the second time. + +On the next day, Tuesday, another messenger was sent by the shogun, +announcing that on Wednesday, if the weather were fine, Viscaino +would be permitted to deliver his embassy. This message was +communicated by two noblemen, who then inquired whether Viscaino had +it in mind to adapt himself to the ancient court etiquette of the +rulers of Japan, which required that, in the imperial presence, he +would have to kneel on both knees and remain with his hands and head +on the floor until the shogun gave the sign for him to rise. The +Spanish ambassador promptly answered that he did not intend to do +any such thing, but would adhere to Spanish court etiquette, would +make the bows and render homage to the emperor in the same way as he +would to his own lord, the King of Spain. He also announced that he +would refuse to lay aside his sword and dagger, or remove his boots, +and that the chamberlain would have to assign him a seat near enough +to the shogun to be able to hear what the latter said. This answer +caused much consternation and discussion and an exchange of messages. +Finally the general threatened that if he were not allowed to deliver +his embassy according to Spanish etiquette, he would return to New +Spain without delivering the viceroy’s letter or presents, and would +merely report that he had brought back the Japanese merchants, and +returned the money lent to Vivero. Upon this the shogun’s counsellors +courteously reminded him that, when received at the Japanese court, +Don Rodrigo Vivero, who was not only a cavalier and relative of the +viceroy, but had also been governor of Luzon, had made no objections, +and had entered the presence of the shogun in the way that was +required of him. Ambassador Viscaino replied that all this was +perfectly true in the case of Don Vivero, who personally was worthy +of the highest consideration, but the latter had come to this court +because he had been ship-wrecked and lost, and because necessity +compelled him to seek aid and means to proceed to New Spain. He was +then in such dire necessity that he was not to blame for any act of +submission he may have made, since he came to implore succor and +naturally was grateful to the ruler of this country who afforded +him aid. It was in consideration of all this that the viceroy had +dispatched the present embassy to escort the Japanese merchants home +and to express the good will of their Catholic majesties. He added, +what was not quite true, that he had not come to ask for anything, +nor to bring merchandise, nor to reap gain or profits, but solely for +the purpose of delivering his embassy. He repeated, however, that he +would sooner depart without delivering it than allow the authority of +king and viceroy to be lowered one fraction of its grandeur, for his +king was the greatest lord on earth. Viscaino’s arrogant utterances +naturally gave offense to the shogun’s messengers; they returned to +the palace greatly nonplussed, and affairs came to a standstill. + +It was then that the shogun wisely summoned a meeting of the +presidents of the councils of state and government, and other high +officials, who, after lengthy debates, finally formulated the +decree that the Spanish ambassador was to be permitted to fulfill +his “mission according to his own usage as best he could.” It was +moreover decided that it was only when he spoke in the name of his +king that he was to be permitted to occupy the same platform as the +shogun who, seated, would receive the viceroy’s letter and presents. +Having delivered these, the ambassador was to descend a step, and +there deliver his present to the shogun, after which he was to seat +himself. The decree concluded with the resolution that as much honor +and mercy as possible was to be conceded to the first ambassador from +New Spain. All difficulties having thus been overcome by the good +will and courtesy of the Japanese, the audience took place on the +following morning. + +The shogun sent four thousand soldiers of his guard to escort the +Spaniards to his palace. The latter formed a group and proceeded in +solemn procession, headed by the captain and pilot of the Spanish +vessel, followed by members of its crew, and a sergeant, who bore +the banner with three streamers, each held by a man. The standard +came next, with its three streamers, the ambassador holding it with +his right hand. Friar Luis Sotelo, the commissary of the Franciscan +order, walked at one side with General Viscaino, and two Franciscan +friars at the other, this group being preceded by the commander of +the junks and another Japanese nobleman. + +The rear-guard was formed by the secretary of the expedition, a +sergeant, and the general’s negro drummer, whose appearance and +drumming made a great commotion, and attracted a numerous crowd. A +detachment of the Japanese guard marched in front of the Spaniards +and another behind. At the fifth door of the palace they were met by +the chamberlain and other officials and were led into a waiting room, +where the ambassador sat for a little while. Thence they were ushered +through an inner, richly decorated hall, into a great court-yard, +where stood more than a thousand royal princes and knights, each one +wearing a helmet on which his insignia of rank was displayed. To them +the ambassador made the courtesies and bows which he considered they +were entitled to, beginning with the highest in rank. He records that +they responded by folding their hands and bowing until their heads +touched the ground. Passing on to another square, the ambassador +came into the presence of the shogun, seated in his royal robes on +cushions and rich carpets. To his right, at a distance, sat his nine +counsellors, and, at a lower level, his steward, chamberlain, and +secretary. A sign was made to the ambassador to approach, and he +did so, all present observing him in profound silence. First of all +he made three bows, which were not very deep, and lowered the staff +he carried until it nearly touched the ground. He then advanced six +paces to a lower platform and made three bows, which were slightly +lower than the preceding ones. The next three bows he made, while +standing on the lowest platform, were still more profound. Then he +placed on his head the viceroy’s letter, and, after making three +more bows, deposited it on the platform. During all this time the +shogun and his counsellors were observing the ambassador and his +extraordinary performances with unconcealed merriment, which the +Spanish attributed entirely to the fact that before this the Japanese +had never seen a full dress Spanish costume. Viscaino’s raiment is +described as being very fine. His cap was adorned with feathers and a +gold band. His sword and dagger were gilt, his boots were white with +buttons, and his frill was of the finest lace. + +Showing evidence of being pleased, the shogun beckoned to his +secretary, and gave him an order to lead the ambassador to the +seat prepared for him, also to tell him that the shogun was glad to +have seen him--especially after all the hardships of the long sea +voyage. The thought of not seeing land for eighty-one days seemed +to the shogun to be truly dreadful. The ambassador replied, through +the interpreter, that he kissed his Highness’ hands for the great +condescension that he was showing him, and that, as far as the +hardships were concerned, which he had undergone and was yet to +undergo on the return voyage, he had come to regard them as gifts +ever since he had come into the presence of such a prince. When +this speech was translated by the secretary, the prince bowed his +head several times towards the ambassador to express his thanks. +Viscaino then arose, and after a very profound obeisance presented +the viceroy’s gifts. Up to the present the Spanish ambassador had +had everything his own way, but now occurred an episode which was +probably unexpected. After a moment’s silence, the prince waved +his hand with great majesty, and two chamberlains approached the +ambassador and led him out of the audience chamber. After a little +while, during which the shogun examined the vice-regal presents, +Viscaino was again led into the hall, which he entered as he had made +his exit, performing the same series of triple bows. This time, it is +related, these bows were more profound, a sign that the ambassador +had been impressed with great respect for the shogun’s authority. +The latter informed him, through his chief counsellors, that he much +esteemed the gifts, and that, if the general would like the Spanish +soldiers and servants to see him, they would be permitted to enter +the audience room. The ambassador then made another bowing exit, and +returned with his men, who were, as he takes pains to record, “booted +and armed.” The shogun examined them with evident curiosity. The +friars were then presented, and offered him their gifts themselves, +two of them being excellent interpreters. + +Each time that the friars addressed a word to the ambassador, he, +although in the presence of the shogun, arose and made them an humble +and respectful bow, thus demonstrating his reverence for their +priesthood, an observance which, he says, impressed the shogun and +his counsellors. At the end of a quarter of an hour, during which +the prince contemplated the Spaniards, he made a sign to two of his +chief counsellors, who again went to the ambassador and led him out +of the hall. He was then requested to allow the shogun to view the +portraits of the King and Queen of Spain, which were intended for +the emperor. When these were sent for and brought before the shogun, +he arose and dismissed every one from the audience room and sent a +message to the ambassador, telling him that he was to return to his +lodgings, and that the portraits would be sent back to him later. +It is recorded that he and his consort and the ladies of the palace +particularly enjoyed seeing the portrait of the Spanish queen, on +account of her beauty and rich costume, which to them seemed very +strange. + +On receiving his dismissal, the ambassador set out as he had come, +but received the injunction that no volleys of musketry were to be +fired as long as he was inside the palace precincts. Once outside, to +the great delight of the Japanese, the Spanish soldiers began to fire +loud volleys of musketry, with such rapidity that in an hour they had +used a whole barrel of powder. + +The following days were spent in making visits and presents to the +court officials, and on St. John’s day the ambassador and his men +went in state to mass, at the Convent of San Francisco, in order, +as is stated, to honor the feast of the Saint, and also to give an +example to the Japanese to go to church and respect the priests. + +At mass they offered a thanksgiving for the mercy that during their +stay in the city there had been no accident or bloodshed such as +might have been expected. At the Elevation of the Host, volleys were +fired and the royal standard and banner were lowered to the base of +the altar. On their way to the convent the Spaniards were met by +Masumane, the mighty Lord of the Province of Oxo, who was awaiting +them on horseback, accompanied by two thousand soldiers and many +mounted horsemen. This noble prince, who was to become the friend and +protector of the Spaniards and all Christians, is described as so +powerful that, in case of warfare, he could command the services of +eighty thousand men. As soon as he saw the ambassador he dismounted +and sent him a message, asking him as a favor to order the Spanish +soldiers to discharge their firearms, because he wanted to see and +hear them do so. Acceding to this request, they discharged two such +loud volleys that he put his hands to his ears in alarm. Frightened +by the noise a number of horses threw their riders, or rolled on +the ground. Viscaino relates that the prince and his suite were so +amused at this that they nearly died of laughter. When order was +restored, the prince approached the ambassador, and bowing to the +ground, offered him thanks and his services, and passed on with such +demonstrations of politeness and courtesy that the Spanish ambassador +was led to state that the Japanese nobility excelled in politeness +all of the nations of the world. + +The return journey to the Port of Uraga was made at the expense of +the shogun and with a large escort of people. About a week later +the embassy set out for the court of the emperor, Iyeyasu, at +Shizuoka, in the Province of Suraga. On their way the Spaniards met +nothing but hospitality, and on arriving at “Corunga,” were lodged +in houses adjacent to the palace. On the following day the emperor +sent a gracious message, expressing the hope that the ambassador +was sufficiently rested to come to the palace. If not, he would be +granted an audience whenever it suited him best. Viscaino, who, it +is said, was always ready to guard his dignity and impose his will, +sent answer that he was ready to deliver his embassy, but that he +first desired to know how the ceremony was expected to be. He, for +his part, refused to remove his sword, dagger and boots, nor would +he kneel upon the floor; what is more, it was his wish and intention +to be accompanied by his armed men bearing the insignia of war, the +standard, banner and drum. The answer was that the emperor graciously +permitted him to deliver his embassy according to his own usage, but +that on no account would he be permitted to fire volleys of musketry +in the imperial court. Possibly as a means of giving the emperor an +opportunity of expressing his displeasure at the arrogance of the +Spanish ambassador, it was decided that he was to enter and leave the +audience chamber twice,--the first time as the ambassador of the king +and viceroy, the second time in his capacity of captain general. + +On arriving at the palace, Viscaino was notified of this arrangement, +and when he made his first entrance the emperor bowed his head in +silent acknowledgment of the series of bows with which he advanced +and presented the letter and viceregal gifts.[3] + + FOOTNOTE: + + [3] These gifts consisted, in the first case, of the clock, + manufactured in Madrid, which the Japanese described as + a “self-sounding bell,” and copied with such success that + Japanese clocks subsequently became famous as articles of + commerce. + + Besides this, the viceregal gifts consisted of the royal + portraits already mentioned; of a water-proof coat, two + saddles, a roll of paper, two barrels of Spanish wine, two + sets of the implements used in falconry, and a roll of + ribbon with gold braid, such as was used in Spain to adorn + gala shoes. + +When Viscaino entered the second time, he was received on a lower +platform, and the emperor with what is described as “greater +severity” bowed his head only at the captain general’s entrance and +exit, being apparently absorbed in examining the royal portraits just +received. + +When the friars offered their gifts, they were spoken to with great +friendliness by the emperor, who asked them many questions. A message +was sent to the ambassador, who was waiting outside, telling him that +the emperor had been pleased to see him, that he was to go back to +his lodgings, and that the emperor would speak to him later on--a +promise which was never fulfilled. + +The following days were spent in an interchange of visits with +court officials. One of the ladies of the imperial palace, a devout +Christian convert named Julia, went to visit the ambassador and +hear mass at his residence. Her example was followed by a number of +Christian Japanese, who were received with much affection by the +Franciscan friars. Many other Japanese also came and expressed their +desire to be taught the Catholic religion and to be baptized. + +Meanwhile General Viscaino was preparing petitions to the emperor, +which were worded as follows:-- + + “Sebastian Viscaino, Captain General of Phillip, King of + Spain, says:-- + + “That he carries an order from his king and the viceroy of New + Spain to make a survey of all the ports of this kingdom from + Nagasaki to its northernmost limits, providing your Imperial + Majesty grants the permission to do so. He is to make charts + and take soundings, so that if obliged to take shelter from + storms, Spanish vessels on their way from Luzon to New Spain + may know which are the best ports to enter, and may not be + wrecked and lost as heretofore. Viscaino begs, as mercy, that + a Japanese official be sent to accompany him, and to obtain + ships and provisions for him everywhere at moderate prices. + He ends with the promise that when the survey map is made, he + will send one copy to the emperor and another to his lord and + king.” + +In a second petition Viscaino requests permission to build a ship, +so that when he returns to New Spain in the vessel in which he came, +he could fill the new one with Japanese products, which he wished +to take home as presents. He begs that the emperor will aid him +by issuing an order that wood, carpenters, blacksmiths and other +necessary workmen be supplied to him at reasonable rates such as are +paid by his Imperial Majesty. He also asks that a Japanese official +be placed in charge of the building of the vessel, and adds that he +would gratefully receive this favor in the name of his king, for +whom the ship was intended, and that he would return in it to Japan +in the following year, with a view to promoting the friendship and +commercial treaty already existing. + +In the third remarkable petition Viscaino makes the false assertion +that he had come to Japan for the sole purpose of bringing thither +the Japanese vassals of his Imperial Majesty, and of returning the +money lent to Rodrigo de Vivero. He claims that he had no other +interests or merchandise, but admits that he has some stuffs and +cloths, which he was obliged to sell in Japan in order to provide +food for his men and to build the ship mentioned in the previous +petition. He complains that when he attempted to sell the stuffs in +the Port of Uraga, he was prevented from doing so by some Japanese +courtiers, who stated that his Majesty needed said stuffs for his +personal use. If this is the case, he says, “the whole ship’s cargo +and its men are at the emperor’s disposal. If not, then will his +Majesty please send an order, so that now, and whenever he may +return to this land from New Spain or Luzon, General Viscaino can +sell such stuffs free from duty or taxation.” It would be well, he +adds, to settle once and for all time what was to be done, so that +one could know whether to return another time to Japan and whether +peace and amity are to continue. Viscaino closes his note by stating +“that in New Spain the Japanese merchants were allowed to sell their +merchandise without paying duties or taxes of any kind.” + +The imperial message brought to Viscaino, after four days, stated +that the orders had been given, and that he would be permitted to +build a ship wherever he chose to do so--that the material and +workmen would be furnished him at very moderate prices, and that the +concessions to survey the ports and to sell stuffs free of taxation +would be granted him. Not satisfied with this, Viscaino sent his +expression of thanks, somewhat contradictorily adding, “that he +wished to inform the emperor that the principal business for which he +had come to Japan was to find out whether his Majesty intended to be +friends with the Dutch and allow them to enter his realm. If so, the +Spanish king would not like his vassals to come to Japan to trade, +and the peace begun could not be continued, for many reasons which he +would explain, if permitted to do so, to his Majesty and the council.” + +On the next day at the house of the emperor’s secretary, the latter +and the president of the council listened attentively to Viscaino’s +representations. He asked them, in the first place, for a written +acknowledgment that he had faithfully brought back the Japanese +who had gone to New Spain, and that they themselves had testified +that they had been well treated during their voyage. He added that +if any one had any complaint to make, he would certainly give him +satisfaction. He also wished a written acknowledgment of his having +paid all that was lent to Don Rodrigo de Vivero, and the proceeds of +the sale at Acapulco of the Japanese ship in which Vivero had made +the voyage to New Spain. He here volunteered to pay any debt that +might be found remaining due, and then asked for a return of the +bonds or bills which Vivero had left as guarantees for the payment of +the debt. The Japanese officials told him that they considered his +requests just ones, and that both of them would immediately report +to the emperor on the subject. After having thus emphasized the +faithfulness and honesty with which he had performed his mission, +Viscaino made an attack upon the Dutch, which was to cost him and +his countrymen dear. He accused certain Dutch traders who had made +a mercantile contract with the emperor a year previous, of being +pirates, who, after committing many robberies, had been pursued +and chastised by the governor of the Philippines. He affirmed that +they certainly would not be able to fulfill their contract with +the emperor, and asked “what friendship could the latter have with +people who were not only thieves, but were disobedient and in revolt +against their lord, the King of Spain!” He requested his auditors +to reflect upon what he had already written on this subject to the +emperor, and also requested an answer as to whether the Japanese +intended to tolerate Dutch trade or not. He expressed a wish not to +have to leave Japan without knowing the result of his embassy, so as +to report it to the King of Spain. Viscaino’s listeners expressed +great surprise at his accusations against the Dutch traders and +withdrew. On the following day they sent a message, saying that they +had reported all he had told them to the emperor; that as they knew +he intended to spend some time in Japan, an answer would be sent +him before his departure for New Spain; that he was to go in God’s +name to the Port of Uraga. On his return to that port, he found +that the emperor had cut off the free supply of food and lodgings +which had heretofore been given to Viscaino. Viscaino interprets +this act as a token of the displeasure the emperor was said to have +felt at the Spanish embassy having visited the court of his son, the +shogun, before his. He also accuses the emperor of an avarice which +was increasing with advancing years, and makes other derogatory +remarks concerning the aged monarch. A few days later the Spaniards +entered the domain of the shogun, who sought to make amends for his +father’s abrupt action, and attributed it to the influence of his +counsellors. Notwithstanding Viscaino’s report against the emperor, +he boasts further on of his embassy not having cost his king one +hundred pesos, or dollars--a fact, however, which he attributes to +the shogun’s generosity and to his own practical wisdom and industry, +which enabled him, as he said, “to make a quarter of a dollar of his +Majesty’s treasury appear like a million.” + +A series of disappointments awaited the Spaniards at Uraga. Their +sale of stuffs did not yield as much as they expected, for being +unknown to them, the Japanese did not appreciate the real value of +the finest woolen cloths and friezes, and would not buy them. Then, +when the cost of building a vessel was estimated, it was found to +exceed by far the means at their command; so it was determined to +repair and strengthen the vessel they had come in, and to make the +survey of the ports in it alone. It was found necessary before +starting to apply to the shogun not only for credentials to the lords +and princes who resided in the north of Japan and were not on good +terms with the emperor, but also for the escort of a high official, +who, in the name of the shogun, was to oblige people to furnish the +necessary provisions and all assistance needed in making the survey. +The shogun, who was under the influence of Friar Luis Sotelo, and +showed a decided leaning towards Christianity, sent kindly messages +to Viscaino, and expressed the wish to see and speak with him at +length on his return concerning the friendly relations between his +country and the Spanish nation. He also sent word, through the +commander of the junks, that he had heard that Viscaino had given up +building the vessel for lack of means, and he deplored his father’s +parsimoniousness. He expressed the desire that the emperor’s license +to build the vessel be transferred to him, as he would like to carry +out the plan himself. Viscaino states that he gave him the imperial +permit on account of being under obligations to him, and as it was +important not to offend him on account of his friendliness towards +Christians. Viscaino caused, however, a document to be drawn, in +which he ventured to impose the following conditions upon the +shogun:-- + + “The ship was not to carry more than one hundred tons. It was + to be placed under his entire command; only two Japanese were + to go as stewards of the ship and of its cargo. Not a cent was + to be spent on the vessel by the Spaniards, but, on arrival + at Vera Cruz, if the viceroy desired to buy the ship, it was + to be given him at a moderate price. If not wanted, it was to + sail for Manila, or wherever the viceroy might command.” + +It is needless to state that these conditions, which Viscaino +attempted to impose upon the Japanese ruler who was to defray the +entire expense of the building, were never fulfilled. What happened +will be told later on. While at Uraga, Viscaino had a memorable +interview with William Adams, the staunch partisan of his former +employers, the Dutch, for whom, in 1611, he had obtained permission +to establish a ship-building factory at Firando. Two Dutchmen had +arrived at Uraga while Viscaino was there, carrying many presents for +the emperor, who through William Adams’ influence received them very +well, and gave them all the permits and grants they asked for. In +their name Adams went to see the Spanish general, and demanded from +him an explanation as to “why he had told the emperor that the Dutch +were a bad people, who were disobedient and in revolt against their +king, and who went about robbing and creating trouble.” Viscaino’s +characteristic answer, which is verbally given, was, “that it was +perfectly true that he had said all that to the emperor, and much +more besides, and that he had fallen short of the truth in describing +what the Dutch were. He ended by stating that he was ready to give +them any satisfaction they desired.” He adds, “that it was agreed +that the Dutchmen were to meet him, but that they did not dare to +do so and adopted the alternative of leaving Uraga at night without +seeing him.” + +Viscaino little imagined when he wrote thus disparagingly of the +Hollanders, that these same men were about to secure a monopoly of +Japanese trade which was to last for as many centuries as the dynasty +of the Tokugawas. + +The above encounter, in which William Adams called Viscaino to +account, is of special interest, for it was to him that Friar Cavo +attributes the total failure of Viscaino’s embassy, and the fresh +persecution of the Catholics which began at about this time. + +According to Cavo, the emperor, surprised at the Spanish ambassador’s +over-bearing threats and demands, asked William Adams, his friend +and adviser, whether such was the style of European nations. The +answer was an emphatic denial, followed by a warning to the emperor +“to be on his guard against the Spaniards, because it was their +desire to dominate the whole world. For this purpose, they sent out +as precursors the Jesuits, who, under the pretext of teaching the +Christian religion, incited the people to rise in rebellion against +their sovereigns. By this method they had made themselves masters of +immense possessions in Asia and America. It was because they knew +all this that the Dutch had cast off the yoke of their rule, and +that the English and Germans were in warfare against them.” It was +evidently immediately after his interview with Viscaino, in which +Adams had ascertained the Spaniards’ antagonism towards the Dutch and +more besides, that he returned to the emperor’s court, and informed +his Majesty that they knew for a certainty that the principal aim +of the Spanish ambassador’s visit was to discover certain islands +of gold and silver. Adams and the merchants then took the liberty +of asking the emperor how he could possibly have given the Spanish +general permission to make a survey of the entire coast and of all +the ports of his realm. The Spaniards, they said, were bellicose and +skilled in the use of arms, and might come with a great armada to +conquer Japan. In England and Holland no such permission would have +been given to the Spaniards. + +The old emperor evidently resented the criticism of his action--even +from his friends, for he loftily answered, “that if the English +and Dutch would not grant such a permission, they must indeed be +cowardly, since they admitted fear of another nation.” He said that +“he had certainly not understood that the Spaniards had any such evil +intentions, but that even if they had, he would have given them as +ample a permission as he had done. He would have no fear even if the +whole of Spain came against him, for he had enough men to defend him, +so that this matter did not cause him the slightest anxiety. As to +the islands that were to be discovered in his realm, he would like to +know where they were--what report had been made about them and what +their riches were reputed to be. If they belonged to his crown, he +would know how to defend them, and if not, he wished the Spaniards +good luck in discovering them, and he hoped that they would find +them situated at a convenient distance, so that he could enter into +mercantile relations with them, this being what he cared for most.” +The Dutchmen then told him that the rumor of the existence of these +islands was attributable to some Portuguese, who, being lost at sea, +had come across them. They had spent several days on them, saw that +they were inhabited, and that the land was fertile and produced gold +and silver, but they could not tell in what latitude, nor at how +many leagues from Japan the islands were situated. + +The emperor somewhat sarcastically rejoined that “it would certainly +require great good fortune for any one to discover anything so vague.” + +Although the Dutchmen were dissatisfied at the way in which the +emperor had received their communications, they evidently bore fruit. +Soon after, a Portuguese frigate arrived, with Don Nuño de Sotomayor, +the Admiral of the Fleet of the Indies, as ambassador to Iyeyasu and +the shogun. With the presents he offered, he made a request that the +Portuguese be allowed to return to trade in Japan, stating that they +would like to do so under certain conditions, the principal one being +the removal of the governor of Nagasaki, against whom they had made +some complaint. The emperor received them coolly and simply said that +“if they desired to come to his country, they might do so, but that +it was not for them to ask him to reform things therein, and that he +did not wish to grant their request.” The Portuguese left without +obtaining more than this rebuff, and “with evil disposition towards +the Japanese.” + +Doubtless the enemies of the Spaniards likewise brought to Iyeyasu’s +notice a disagreeable little episode which occurred at about that +time, and cited it as an example of Spanish commercial dishonesty. +It seems that no less a personage than a son of the commander of +the junks had entrusted a member of Don Rodrigo Vivero’s suite with +a quantity of valuable merchandise, which was taken to Mexico and +sold there. From the proceeds the Spaniards were to buy certain +woolen stuffs and fine cloths for the Japanese nobleman’s household. +The latter learned, on Viscaino’s arrival, that the Japanese goods +had been sold in Mexico, and also that Vivero’s follower had +sent him nothing in return. It seems that it was with difficulty +that the ambassador pacified the incensed creditor, and tried to +exonerate Vivero from all blame, stating that he doubtless knew +nothing about his follower’s affairs. In order to hush the matter +up, however, Viscaino and the Franciscan friars jointly compensated +the Japanese lord with woolen stuffs of the value of seven hundred +dollars. Commenting on this, Viscaino expresses himself as follows, +unconsciously rendering a tribute to Japanese commercial honesty, at +that period:-- + + “This transaction was wrong and deserving of + punishment--especially with people like these, who are so + punctual and exact, and are unacquainted with such dealings.” + +Unfortunately, about this period, a high official in the house +of the aged emperor was found guilty of an unprecedented act of +deceitfulness and treachery, and, on being tortured, confessed that +not only he but his wife and other fellow servants had been converted +to Christianity by the Spanish friars. All were arrested and +threatened with punishment and the confiscation of their property if +they did not abjure their new faith. Many remained firm and incurred +disgrace and loss of property, among them the lady Julia, who was +expelled from the palace with shorn head and exiled to an island. + +Shortly afterwards, under pretext of having to extend the boundaries +of the town, the Franciscan monastery at Yedo was destroyed, and +throughout the country the Christian churches and monasteries were +razed to the ground. An ill-timed speech delivered by Viscaino +during his visit to a Japanese lord was also doubtless reported to +the emperor, and must have prejudiced him still more against the +Spanish influence. Viscaino had assured his Japanese host “that the +latter could not give greater satisfaction to the King of Spain +than by allowing the friars to enter his domain and preach to his +vassals--thus establishing permanent peace. For the King of Spain,” +he said, “did not care about trade with Japan, nor any temporal +interests, for God had given him many kingdoms and dominions. The +only inducement that his Christian Majesty had (to enter into +relations with Japan) was a pious desire that all nations should be +taught the holy Catholic faith, and thus be saved.” + +While the emperor, under the influence of his English and Dutch +protestant advisers, daily took more active measures to expel the +Roman catholicism introduced by the Spaniards and Portuguese, +Viscaino was sailing northward, surveying ports and thickly populated +islands, and bestowing upon them the names of his patron saints! He +little thought, as he took his soundings, and in the absence of a +Spanish cosmographer, superintended the drawing of his charts by a +Japanese artist, that he had become the unconscious educator of the +Japanese, and that they, and never the Spaniards, were to make sole +use of the results of his trained skill. + +His charts, of which he duly sent the promised copies to the +emperor and shogun, were examined with great interest by more than +one Japanese nobleman. One lord, the coast of whose domain he had +surveyed, sent him presents and a message, saying “that he much +esteemed the trouble Viscaino was taking in discovering towns of his +dominion, that he was delighted to hear that there were good ports in +his land, and that he would much like to see the map of demarcation +and the paintings which had been made.” + +Everywhere Viscaino and his companions were well received and +generously entertained. Friar Luis Sotelo accompanied him for part +of the time, and was with him when he visited Masumane, the powerful +Lord of Oxo, who had displayed such interest in Spanish musketry at +Yedo. This prince welcomed the Spanish general, and particularly +Friar Sotelo, with utmost affection, respect and reverence, and +insisted upon serving food and drink to them with his own hands. As a +pledge of a friendship which he faithfully kept, he changed his sword +for Viscaino’s dagger, and, on receiving this, kissed its crossed +handle, and placed it on his head. He displayed his socialistic +tendencies and esteem for Christians by bestowing a title on one of +his own servants, who was a convert, and by inviting him to dine with +him and his Spanish Christian friends. Thereupon, naturally enough, +many other members of Prince Masumane’s household crowded around the +friar, kissed the hem of his robe, and announced their intention +to frequent the Franciscan monastery and study the Christian +religion. Masumane from the first exhibited the greatest interest and +inclination towards the Catholic faith, proved himself a true friend +and protector of the Christians, and ultimately became a convert with +all of his family, and a large number of his vassals. + +At the beginning of December, General Viscaino had reached 40 degrees +north latitude. On interrogating the natives he found that they knew +the use of the compass, and was told that there was a distance of +about sixty leagues from the extremity of Japan to Corea, and that +before reaching Tartary, in the channel lay a great island called +Yeso, which was inhabited by people like savages who were so covered +by hair that only their eyes were visible, and who habitually visited +Japan in the months of July and August for trading purposes. Intense +cold set in, and as Viscaino concluded that ports situated on the +northwestern and southeastern shores of Japan would be of little use +to vessels trading from the Philippines, he decided to return to +Uraga, where he arrived on the 4th of January and met the members of +his crew who had remained behind. He lingered at Uraga until the end +of May selling his woolen stuffs at Yedo, “with difficulty and poor +profits,” and then started on a survey of the coast lying between +Uraga and Nagasaki. + +He first went to Ito, however, where, as agreed upon, the ship was +being built by Japanese workmen under the patronage of the shogun. +He found that beyond the preparing of the timber nothing had been +done to advance its construction, and was struck by the lukewarmness +and slowness with which the work was progressing. The general gave +instructions to the shipbuilders by word and by letter, and then +proceeded on his journey. On returning to Miaco on July 2, he had +four copies made of his survey charts, or as he calls them his +“Discovery of Japanese Ports,” these being intended for Iyeyasu, the +shogun, the King of Spain and himself. From Corunga, a week later, +he sent a message to the emperor, asking permission to start on his +homeward voyage. It is evident that the emperor understood that +Viscaino intended to sail directly to New Spain, for he sent word +that Viscaino was to go on to Uraga, whither his answer would reach +him, and there the emperor sent him a gift and a letter for the +Viceroy of Mexico. The fact of his not sending any letter or gift to +the King of Spain by Viscaino proved that he, probably enlightened by +William Adams, had not taken very seriously Viscaino’s pretence to be +the ambassador of the king as well as of the viceroy. Viscaino, who +had been informed that the emperor was so incensed at the Christians, +on account of the treachery in his household, that no Christian dared +approach him, complains that the emperor’s answer to the viceroy was +very different from what had been promised, since in it his Majesty +wrote “that he did not like” the Christian religion. + +The complete text of this remarkable letter has just been published +by Señor Lera, who wrongly states, however, on page 23, that Spanish +translations of both letters are contained on page 185, Vol. VIII, +of the “Documentos Ineditos,” and on page 22, that the first galleon +which sailed from Uraga for Acapulco carried six letters to the +viceroy. + +In Iyeyasu’s letter, dated July 18, 1612, which closes the +official correspondence between him and the viceroy of New Spain, +he courteously thanks the viceroy for his presents and letter, +and “expresses the hope that Heaven will permit that their mutual +relations will be as close as those which result from familiar +intercourse between neighboring countries.” He remarks “that the +interchange of merchandise could but be of mutual advantage”; and +then expounds the elements of the Japanese religion, explaining that +“in Japan, in making solemn compacts or agreements, it was customary +to appeal to the gods to act as witnesses of their sincerity. These +gods infallibly reward those who are faithful to their promises, and +punish those who violate them.” Iyeyasu next asks, “whether the path +of all virtue is not to be found in the practice of the five virtues: +Humanity, Justice, Courtesy, Prudence, and Fidelity?” + +He then makes a statement which reveals too well what unfortunate +experiences he had had in his dealings with the very people whose +intercourse he had cordially desired for many years, and what +erroneous ideas concerning the Christian religion had reached him in +his seclusion within his palace walls, for he says:-- + + “The doctrine followed in your country differs entirely from + ours, therefore, I am persuaded it would not suit us.” + +“In the Buddhist writings it says that it is difficult to convert +those who are not disposed towards being converted. It is best, +therefore, to put an end to the preaching of your doctrine on our +soil. + +“On the other hand, you can multiply the voyages of merchant ships, +and thus promote mutual interests and relations. Your ships can +enter Japanese ports without exception. I have given strict orders +to this effect.” The presents sent with this letter are said to have +been “five pairs of gilt screens and a map of Japan.” + +The shogun’s letter was brief and reserved, but entirely friendly. +He gives thanks for the viceroy’s letter and presents, states “that +intercourse and inclination, mocking at distance, have brought them +together as neighbors,” and adds “that he would await with impatience +the merchant vessel, which, once a year, was to bring him news of the +viceroy and his nation.” + +In conclusion he mentions three breast-plates and other pieces of +Japanese armor, which he begs the viceroy “to accept as a proof of +his devotion.” + +At the time this letter was written, the shogun, who did not share +his father’s views, and was under the influence of Friar Luis Sotelo, +was preparing to send an embassy to New Spain on his own account, +with a view of counteracting his father’s severity and establishing +direct relations between New Spain and his own domain. + +The first step towards the execution of his plan had been his request +to Viscaino to transfer to him the emperor’s license to build a +vessel, and it would seem as though the whole affair had been kept a +profound secret from his father and from General Viscaino. As soon as +the latter had departed, presumably for New Spain, the rigging and +fitting up of the vessel, which seems to have been purposely delayed, +were rapidly completed. Five weeks after Viscaino’s departure, Friar +Sotelo sailed from Uraga for New Spain with credentials appointing, +him the shogun’s ambassador, and with a numerous suite of Japanese. +They had barely reached the open sea, however, when they were +overtaken by a storm which drove their ship upon the rocky coast and +completely wrecked it. The fact that when building it the dimensions +planned by Viscaino had been altered and the probability that the +Japanese were as yet unskilled in the navigation of similar vessels +may in part account for the loss of the vessel. The shogun, who, for +unknown reasons, cast the entire responsibility and blame for the +disaster upon Friar Sotelo, had him cast into prison and sentenced +to death. He released and pardoned him, however, at the instance of +Masumane, who took Friar Sotelo to his court and made him his chief +counsellor. + +While all this was occurring at Uraga, General Viscaino was cruising +about in search of the two islands, for it had never been his +intention to sail for New Spain until he had accomplished what he +and his father, the viceroy, had decided to be the principal aim of +his voyage, namely, the discovery of the islands described by the +Portuguese mariners. To his chagrin, he had had to give up setting +out with the second ship, as he had planned from the beginning, for +it had been built of a greater capacity, and although he had seen it +actually afloat at Uraga, it could not be finished before he left. + +On the 16th of September, Viscaino, with a reduced crew, and short +of many necessary provisions, sailed from Uraga. On the 25th, +after covering more than two hundred leagues, he found himself in +the latitude in which, according to certain charts, the islands +were supposed to lie. Finding no sign of these, the general held a +consultation with the pilots on board as to what would be the best +method to pursue in searching for them. All agreed to sail southward +to 32 degrees of latitude, and did so, coming across many signs of +a proximity to land, such as floating pieces of pumice stone, ducks +and turtles. But they did not find the islands. The general, who it +is recorded would not allow himself to think of returning to Acapulco +until he had ascertained whether the islands existed or not, gave +orders to retrace the ship’s course. They continued their search with +extraordinary diligence until October 12th, when some of the sailors +became disheartened. The pilot then declared that, to his belief, +the islands did not exist, and that he had exceeded his obligations +and the viceroy’s orders. Some of the crew mutinied, and, as he had +no armed men to back him, the general, to avoid being killed, was +obliged to pacify them with good words. On the 14th a violent storm +overtook them, followed on the 18th by a hurricane which obliged them +to cut down the mainmast. For eleven days they were in great peril, +and suffered from lack of water and food, all cooking utensils having +been washed overboard. Giving themselves up as lost, and realizing +the importance of continuing their voyage to New Spain, they held a +consultation and decided that there was nothing to do but return to +Japan, obtain a loan from the emperor, which their king would approve +of, and make preparations to go back to New Spain in the following +year. With a vessel which owed its escape from foundering to the +lining which had been given it in Uraga, they reached this port, +where further trials and deceptions awaited them. + +The first news learned by Viscaino, on reaching the harbor of Uraga, +was the history of the shogun’s attempt to send an embassy and the +loss of his vessel. The following is his characteristic comment on +this disaster:-- + + “We found on reaching Uraga that the ship ‘San Sebastian’ had + sailed and had run aground about a league from port, because + the Japanese had insisted on carrying out their will, and had + loaded it without permission from the Spaniards. The Japanese + recognized their mistake.” + +On landing, Viscaino at once sent messages to Iyeyasu and the shogun, +announcing his return and explaining his misfortunes and the absolute +necessity there was for him to obtain means to fit himself out for +his return journey to Mexico in the following year. + +The answer he received was that both sovereigns were grieved at his +hardships, and that he was not to be troubled, as they would furnish +him with what was necessary; that the emperor was about to visit his +son at Yedo, and that, while there, both would discuss what was to +be done. As soon as the general heard that the emperor had reached +Yedo, he went thither to see him and solicit the loan he had asked +for. He spent five whole months making extraordinary efforts, by +means of presents and petitions, to attain his end. He underwent many +hardships and suffered from exposure to cold--even waiting for hours +by the roadside and in the places where he expected the emperor to +pass when out hunting, but he never succeeded in speaking to him, nor +did his petitions ever reach their destination, being intercepted by +the secretaries and counsellors. + +All this did not correspond with what had been promised him, and it +was but natural he should abuse the Japanese, and accuse them of bad +faith, etc. Later on he learned the cause of the treatment he had +received and exonerated the emperor’s counsellors from blame. It +seems that a friar, whose name and whose order Viscaino withholds, +had sent a communication to the emperor, stating that he had heard +that the general was soliciting a loan of six thousand dollars, to +be repaid in New Spain. He warned the emperor and his counsellors +to be careful, because Viscaino carried no authorization from the +viceroy or from the King of Spain to make a loan there, that he +had no means of repaying it, and that none of the friars would be +responsible for the debt. Naturally the emperor withheld the loan, +but kept Viscaino waiting in uncertainty for five months. Meanwhile +the latter received an offer from certain Spaniards to loan him the +sum he needed, the capital and interest to be payable in New Spain. +This offer was joyfully accepted, and Viscaino drew up a mortgage +of his and the king’s property to give as security. But the friars +warned the Spaniards also, stating that they had their grave doubts +as to whether the loan would ever be repaid, and other things which, +Viscaino says, could not bear repetition. In his dire necessity he +called together his men, who were suffering from hunger, explained +the situation and told them that nothing remained but for him to try +to sell in Yedo at auction all he possessed--not only his negro slave +and the mattresses from his own bed, but also the merchandise he had +bought on commission for several noblemen of Mexico. He appealed +to them to follow his example, and to sell all their personal +belongings, so that they would be able to pay what they owed, repair +their vessel and sail for New Spain. He thought that even if they had +to live on rice and water alone during the whole voyage, it would +be better than “to remain in the heathenish country they were in.” +When on the next day he endeavored to collect the clothing, etc., in +order to take all to Yedo for sale, the majority of his men excused +themselves, some hid their belongings and others sold them secretly +and deserted. Being powerless, as he says, to “exercise the power of +royal justice,” Viscaino confesses that he thought it best “to be +silent and dissimulate.” So he collected all he possessed and went to +Yedo to dispose of it, with the intention of paying his debts, and +then meeting the expenses of his return voyage by taking freight and +Spanish and Japanese passengers on his vessel. + +The Spaniards agreed to this and some Japanese were inclined to +do so, when another friar of the same order crossed Viscaino’s +plans--not only hindering the sale of his effects and the realization +of his project, but also preventing Japanese merchants from even +visiting the general’s lodgings. + +After making certain accusations against the friar, who seems to have +been no other than Luis Sotelo, Viscaino describes how he became so +discouraged that he actually fell ill. He was rapidly growing worse +when a new vista suddenly opened out before him. Agents sent by Lord +Masumane arrived, and offered to employ him and his men to build a +vessel and to navigate it, when ready, to New Spain. Viscaino, who +had had to relinquish all hope of ever being able to return in his +own ship, which had become unseaworthy, only too gladly drew up a +contract, the terms of which were, as he states, most favorable to +his Majesty, the King of Spain. Masumane’s agents undertook not only +to give the remainder of the Spanish crew, consisting of twenty-six +pilots, carpenters and other workmen, the same salary they had +been receiving from the crown, but also to advance them good wages +and free transportation for themselves and their belongings to the +prince’s domain. + +General Viscaino, the royal constable, the surgeon and three or four +other officers were to remain in the pay of the Spanish crown, but +were to have free board and lodgings from the time they embarked +until they reached Acapulco. Over and above these terms of agreement, +which were faithfully kept by the Japanese, Viscaino imposed upon the +agents two conditions which Masumane did not subsequently recognize. +The first of these was that all employees, whether Japanese or +Spaniards, were to be exclusively under the general’s orders. The +second was that, if, previous to sailing, no permission was received +from the viceroy of Mexico for Japanese to go to New Spain, only a +few Japanese were to be allowed to fill menial positions on board, +and only in case they were needed. This clause, similar to that +introduced by Viscaino in his previous contract, absolutely confirms +the statement of the Japanese merchants who returned from New Spain +and reported that they had been asked not to return, and shows that +the vice-regal government of Mexico had received orders from Spain +to follow a policy of exclusion in order to protect Spanish-Asiatic +trade. + +It was not until the 26th of October, 1613, that the vessel was ready +for the voyage. Viscaino complains of having had great trouble with +the Japanese, and of suffering much from the constant interference of +“a friar who had persuaded the Japanese to help him to further a plan +he had in mind.” At the last moment, Viscaino relates, “the friar +took entire command of everything, embarked as many Japanese as he +wanted, and constituted himself Governor and Captain General of the +vessel.” The friar was no less a personage than Friar Luis Sotelo, +whose previous expedition as the shogun’s ambassador had ended so +disastrously. This time he and a Japanese nobleman, named Hasekura +Rokuyemon, set out as co-ambassadors for Masumane, the Lord of Oxo, +with a suite of one hundred and eighty Japanese, including sixty +Samurai and several merchants. They were provided with letters not +only to the viceroy of Mexico, but also to the King of Spain and to +Pope Paul V. + +Viscaino pathetically records that he protested in vain, and finally, +in order to avert a great disaster, was forced “to dissimulate and to +embark as a mere passenger” upon the ship he and his men had built. +He adds that the humor of the Japanese was such that they actually +would have killed him had he attempted to do otherwise. + +It would seem as though Viscaino left the vessel at the first Mexican +port which was touched, for it is from Zacatula, north of Acapulco, +that Viscaino dispatched, on January 22, 1614, his report to his +father, Don Luis de Velasco, then living in Spain, and whom he +probably soon joined. He seems to have ended his days in obscurity, +for the date of his death was unknown to his Mexican biographer, +Beristian. + +The somewhat lengthy superscription of Viscaino’s report conclusively +reveals the true aim of his embassy, which he took such pains to +conceal from the Japanese, but of which they were informed by William +Adams and his Dutch friends. It reads as follows:-- + + “Account of the voyage made for the discovery of the Islands + named ‘The Rich in Gold and Silver,’ situated in Japan, Don + Luis de Velasco being Viceroy of New Spain, and his son, + Sebastian Viscaino, the General of the Expedition.” + +Here ends the history of the first and last Spanish vice-regal +ambassador to Japan. + +Friar Sotelo’s arrival in Mexico as the ambassador of the Protector +of Christianity in Japan, and with a flock of would-be converts, +was regarded as a triumph of the church and particularly of the +deservedly much loved Franciscan order. At Acapulco, the town +officials determined to honor the members of an embassy to the +viceroy, the king and the pope with extraordinary honors, and greeted +it with salutes of artillery. Its members were escorted with music to +luxuriously appointed lodgings, and the festivities were crowned by +a gala bull-fight. The viceroy sent orders that provisions for the +journey to the capital were to be provided, and a large mounted and +armed escort was to accompany the embassy on its long and somewhat +perilous journey. In all villages, towns and cities along their route +the travelers were received with military music and triumphal arches. +Carpets strewn with pieces of gold were spread on their pathway, and +they were lodged and lavishly entertained at the royal houses. In +the capital, where they were anxiously expected, they were lodged in +a palace near the Convent of San Francisco, where they were at once +visited by the archbishop, the judges and officers of the inquisition +and the high nobility and gentlemen of Mexico. + +Having opportunely arrived in Holy Week, the Japanese were able to +witness the solemn processions and impressive religious ceremonies +held in the cathedral and churches of Mexico, the interiors of which +were beautifully decorated with flowers. They were so impressed with +what they saw that seventy-eight members of the Japanese ambassador’s +suite expressed their desire to be baptized. This sacrament was +performed in the Church of San Francisco with great solemnity and +the sanction of the archbishop’s presence, members of the highest +nobility acting as sponsors. Subsequently the Japanese ambassador +expressed his desire to be baptized, but after consultation the +archbishop and the commissary-general of the Franciscan order advised +him to defer this ceremony until his arrival at the Spanish court. + +It is recorded that on the day the Japanese ambassador went to “kiss +the hand” of the viceroy, he distributed new liveries to his servants +and went in state to the palace, with a mounted escort. + +The viceroy, Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova, Marquis of Guadalcazár, +who received him with great delight and courtesy, expressed his +satisfaction at the embassy’s having been sent from Japan. He +consented to give the Japanese passports allowing them to go to +Spain, but informed them that it would be necessary for them to +obtain from the King of Spain permission to return to Mexico; a +detail which again reveals the existence of an established policy of +exclusion. + +On account of the difficulties of transporting so many persons, +it was decided that the majority of the ambassador’s suite was to +remain in Mexico. The baptized converts were sent back to Acapulco, +and the few merchants who had accompanied the embassy remained in +the country, doubtless studying its products and manufactories. The +mercantile relations with Mexico, which are said in the “Japanese +History of Commerce” to have been kept up until 1636, when they +entirely ceased, were probably established by these merchants and +limited to Masumane’s domain. + +Friar Sotelo, Masumane’s ambassador, his relatives and the sixty +Samurai departed for Vera Cruz, visiting Puebla, where bull-fights +and tournaments were held in their honor, and where they were lodged +in the Franciscan monastery. + +On the 10th of June, after spending four and a half months in Mexico, +the embassy embarked in one of the best Spanish vessels and, escorted +by the fleet commanded by General Antonio de Oquendo, reached Havana +a fortnight later, and finally landed in Spain on the 5th of October, +1614. + +The embassy was received with honors in Madrid, where the baptism of +the ambassador was celebrated. He was given the name of the king, who +probably acted as his sponsor, and that of Francis, the founder of +Friar Sotelo’s order. + +Friar Cavo states that “this embassy did not succeed in establishing +commercial relations between Spain and Japan on account of the +persecution of Christians going on in the latter country.” It is +obvious, however, that no diplomatic negotiations could possibly +have been entered into by the King of Spain with ambassadors who were +sent by one of the feudal lords and not by the emperor of the country +whence they came. + +After a very short stay in Madrid, during which, however, the King +of Spain appointed Friar Sotelo his court preacher, the embassy +went to Rome, where the friars and Hasekura Phillip Francis were +received in audience by the Pope on the 3rd of November, 1615. It is +recorded that after being presented to his Holiness they read him, +probably with a view of obtaining his support, Latin translations +of Masumane’s letters, in which the prince cordially invited +Franciscan friars to his domain, promised to protect all converts +to the Catholic faith, expressed his desire to hold friendship with +his Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain, and to enter into direct +commercial relations with Mexico. + +The Franciscan friar, Gregorio Petrocha, then made an address, +and a Monsignor answered for the Pope, expressing his joy at the +embassy, his benevolent acceptance of the homage and reverence paid +to the Apostolic See by the “King,” Masumane, who, he hoped, would +soon follow his pious inclination and be baptized. The embassy was +dismissed with presents and a letter for Masumane. + +Beristian states that a painting from life of Friar Sotelo and +Hasekura is preserved in the Quirinal Palace, in the ante-chamber of +the chapel. + +Señor Lera’s publication contains the only statement I have been able +to find concerning the date of the return of Masumane’s embassy to +Japan. He says that after an absence of six years it reached Nagasaki +in 1620. This prolonged absence seems to indicate that it would have +been dangerous for them to have returned sooner on account of the +emperor’s persecution of the Christians, and the proscription of +their religion. It is not impossible that some of these converted +Japanese remained permanently in Mexico. + +Three years after the return of the embassy Iyeyasu died under tragic +circumstances, and was succeeded by his grandson, Iyemitsu, who, in +1624, issued an edict ordering away all foreigners and interdicting +Christianity. + +In the following year Friar Sotelo, with several companions, was +burned alive at Bomura, thus realizing, as is quaintly said, “the +desire with which he had come to Japan, to win a martyr’s crown.” + +In 1636 all commercial relations with New Spain ceased, and in 1638 +the Portuguese were expelled from Japan, and all ports were closed +to foreign traffic. The Dutch alone were tolerated as traders and +settlers, but the latter were virtually imprisoned on the peninsula +of Dashima, where they had a factory. + +Iyemitsu completed the system inaugurated by his predecessor, and +put an end to Japanese trade and intercourse with foreign countries +by issuing an edict forbidding his subjects to leave their country, +under pain of capital punishment. He also ordered the destruction of +all vessels of European pattern belonging to Japan. From that time to +1854, when Commander Perry made a treaty with the shogunate at Uraga, +Japan “maintained a most rigid policy of isolation.” + +The foregoing history of the events which followed Iyeyasu’s attempt +to establish commercial relations with New Spain, based on original +documents only and here presented for the first time, explains +some of the reasons why, later on, the same emperor decided that +intercourse with European nations positively endangered the integrity +and future of Japan. + +All had been simple at first when the Portuguese, regularly meeting +Japanese merchants at the Island of Hirado, traded by barter and +exported from Japan on an average of over three million dollars +a year in gold. The three Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, St. +Francis Xavier, Torres, and Fernandez, who landed in the Province +of Satsuma in 1549, met with unexpected success in introducing the +Catholic religion. The arrival of certain Spanish Franciscan friars, +sent on a mission to Miaco by the governor of Manila, divided the +Christian foreigners and converts in Japan into two rival parties, +one consisting of the Portuguese Jesuits backed by the merchants of +their own country, the other of the Spanish Franciscans supported by +the Manila merchants, who bitterly resented the Portuguese monopoly +of Japanese trade. The arrival of the Spanish Dominicans caused +still further complications; the dissensions among the members and +followers of the three orders giving direct provocation to the +persecution of Christians by the Japanese government. In order to +establish peace, Pope Gregory XIII in 1585 issued a Bull forbidding +all religious orders but that of the Jesuits to exercise priestly +offices in Japan. + +Vivero, the first Spanish official who landed in Japan, made efforts +to poison the emperor’s mind against the Portuguese, with a view of +securing the monopoly of gold exportation for the Spaniards. Vivero +and the viceroy of Mexico also ignored Iyeyasu’s request for the +expert Mexican miners, whom he had wished to employ to teach the +Japanese the best methods of working their own gold mines. + +Viscaino, the first Spanish ambassador, maligned the Dutch, with +whom a commercial treaty had just been made, and went so far as to +threaten that if the Japanese intended to tolerate the Dutch, the +Spanish king would not allow his subjects to have dealings with +Japan. On the other hand, the protestant Dutch republicans, and their +influential English friend, William Adams, denounced the religion of +the Portuguese and Spaniards, and described the latter’s thirst for +gold and success in conquering many remote countries which yielded +the precious metal. + +The revelation that Viscaino’s secret mission was precisely to +discover an unknown source of gold, presumably belonging to his +dominion, was received by Iyeyasu simultaneously with the reproach +of having unsuspectingly granted permission to survey the Japanese +coast, which would unquestionably facilitate any future invasion of +Japan, whether actually intended or not by the Spaniards. It seems +possible that the existence of Viscaino’s charts may have suggested +to the emperor and his counsellors the idea of closing all Japanese +ports to foreign nations. + +The discoveries that certain converts made by Japanese missionaries +had pledged their allegiance to a foreign power; that in the +emperor’s own household Christians had been guilty of treachery and +duplicity, and the memory that missionaries, in open defiance of the +emperor’s orders, not only had preached in the streets of Miaco, +but had even erected a church, explain, moreover, why the ruling +class in Japan took alarm, and concluded that the Christian religion +“struck at the root of the political and religious systems of Japan,” +and that “Christians formed a dangerous and anti-national class, +whose extirpation was essential to the political system initiated by +Iyeyasu and perfected by Iyemitsu.” + +While it has seemed to me that the foregoing data concerning the +earliest relations between Japan and Mexico were interesting from a +historical point of view, I have also realized that they could but +be of particular value to ethnologists and those who are especially +interested in evidences of Asiatic influences in Mexico and Central +America. To them I venture to recommend the consideration of the +following facts:-- + +More or less frequent indirect intercourse between Japan and Mexico +undoubtedly took place as soon as communication was established +between the Philippine Islands and Acapulco. + +In 1608 there were fifteen thousand Japanese residing in the +Philippines, some of whom were probably employed in the crews of the +galleons, eight of which came to Acapulco each year. In 1610, with +the ex-governor of the Philippines, Vivero, twenty-three Japanese +noblemen and merchants spent five months in Mexico and its capital. + +In 1613, one hundred and eighty Japanese spent four and a half months +in Mexico. The majority remained when the embassy departed for +Europe, seventy-eight returning to Acapulco. The presumption is that +they remained there awaiting the return of the ambassadors, which was +delayed for six years. + +Iyemitsu’s prohibition to Japanese to leave their country, under +penalty of death, indicates that a large number of persecuted +Christians had been going into voluntary exile. In all probability +some of these, and also members of the Japanese colony in the +Philippines, came to Mexico and settled there. What is more, for +over two hundred years Mexico was the highroad over which passed the +merchandise brought from Spain’s Asiatic possessions, and landed at +Acapulco by vessels whose crews frequently were partly Asiatic. + +It is obvious, therefore, that it is the first duty of ethnologists +to assign to the above influx of Japanese into Mexico in historical +times any indications of Asiatic influence that they may detect, and +for anthropologists to consider the more or less limited mingling of +races which doubtless occurred in the 17th century and afterwards. + +I will set an example by attributing to the Japanese who visited +Mexico in the 17th century the introduction of the raincoat made of +grass or palm leaves, which is worn by the Indians inhabiting the +Pacific coast of Mexico, and which is said to be identical with that +used in Japan from time immemorial. + +In this connection it suffices to point out the significant fact that +the members of Masumane’s suite returned to Acapulco from the City of +Mexico in June, precisely at the beginning of the rainy season. It +being absolutely necessary for them to have some protection from the +torrential showers they were exposed to during their long journey, it +seems more than probable that they deftly manufactured from native +grasses or palm leaves such rain-coats as they had been accustomed to +make and wear in their native land. + +The practical lesson thus taught the observant natives and the models +furnished by the rain-coats discarded at the end of the wet season +would surely sufficiently account for the introduction and use to +the present day of these useful and easily manufactured garments, of +which a specimen, bought in the marketplace at Oaxaca, has been sent +by the writer to the Museum of the Department of Anthropology of the +University of California. + + + + + =UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS= + + =DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY= + + +The publications issued from the Department of Anthropology of the +University of California are sent in exchange for the publications +of anthropological societies and museums, for journals devoted +to general anthropology or to archaeology and ethnology, and for +specimens contributed to the museum collections of the Department. +They are also for sale at the prices stated, which include postage or +express charges. 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Mace + (in preparation). + + + =ANTHROPOLOGICAL MEMOIRS.= + + Vol. I. Explorations in Peru, by Max Uhle (in preparation). + No. 1. The Ruins of Moche. + No. 2. Huamachuco, Chincha, Ica. + No. 3. The Inca Buildings of the Valley of Pisco. + + + =SPECIAL VOLUMES.= + + The Book of the Life of the Ancient Mexicans, containing an + account of their rites and superstitions; an anonymous + Hispano-American manuscript preserved in the Biblioteca + Nazionale Centrale, Florence, Italy. Reproduced in fac-simile, + with introduction, translation, and commentary, by Zelia + Nuttall. + + Part I. Preface, Introduction, and 80 Fac-simile plates in + colors. 1903. + Part II. Translation and Commentary. (In press). + Price for the two parts $25.00 + + The Department of Anthropology, Its History and Plan, 1905. + + + =ASTRONOMY.=--W. W. Campbell, Editor. + =Publications of the Lick Observatory.=--Volumes I–V + completed. Volume VI (in progress). + + =BOTANY.=--W. A. Setchell, Editor. 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Volume III (in + progress). + + =UNIVERSITY CHRONICLE.=--An official record of University + life, issued quarterly, edited by a committee of the + faculty. Price, $1.00 per year. Current volume No. VIII. + + * * * * * + +Address all orders, or requests for information concerning the above +publications (except Astronomy) to =The University Press, Berkeley, +California=. + + + + +Transcriber’s Note: + + +Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like +this_. Those in bold are surrounded by equal signs, =like this=. +The list of University Publications was consolidated at the end of +the book. Footnotes were renumbered sequentially. Obvious printing +errors, such as partially printed letters and punctuation, were +corrected. Words may have inconsistent hyphenation in the text. Three +misspelled words were corrected. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 *** |
